Sen. Rand Paul is back on the warpath, targeting Dr. Anthony Fauci with a revived criminal referral to the Department of Justice.

According to Newsmax, Paul announced on Monday his intent to reissue the referral, undeterred by the pardon’s confirmation. He’s doubling down, insisting that justice must prevail despite executive maneuvers to shield certain figures.

The Kentucky Republican took to X, declaring, “Perjury is a crime. And Fauci must be held accountable.” This move comes hot on the heels of a controversial late-night pardon issued via autopen by former President Joe Biden.

Fauci in the Crosshairs Once Again

Paul’s latest action isn’t a sudden whim; it’s rooted in a long-standing contention from 2021 when he accused Fauci of misleading Congress. The issue at hand was Fauci’s testimony regarding funding for gain-of-function research tied to the COVID-19 virus at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Back then, Paul urged federal authorities to scrutinize Fauci’s statements for potential falsehoods. Lying to Congress isn’t a minor offense, carrying penalties of up to five years behind bars and hefty fines.

Now, with Biden’s autopen pardon in play, Paul smells a cover-up, a convenient escape hatch for someone he believes dodged the truth. This pardon, issued amidst a batch of clemency decisions, raises questions about accountability for those in high places.

Autopen Pardon Sparks Outrage

Biden justified the autopen signature by noting the sheer volume of pardons, saying, “we’re talking about a whole lot of people.” But that explanation lands like a lead balloon when the stakes involve allegations of perjury during a global health crisis.

An autopen isn’t exactly the personal touch one expects for decisions of such gravity. It’s hard to ignore the optics of a mechanical signature shielding someone from scrutiny over testimony that shaped public trust in a pandemic response.

Paul’s refusal to let this slide signals a broader frustration with elites sidestepping consequences. If the system can’t hold even the most visible figures to account, what does that say about fairness under the law?

COVID Research Funding Under Scrutiny

The core of Paul’s grievance remains the murky details around gain-of-function research funding. He contends Fauci’s statements to Congress obscured the reality of U.S. involvement in studies at Wuhan, a flashpoint for COVID-19’s origins.

This isn’t just bureaucratic nitpicking; it’s about whether the public was misled at a time when clarity mattered most. If funds were funneled into risky experiments, as Paul alleges, someone needs to own up to the decision-making.

The penalty for lying to Congress—up to five years in prison—underscores the seriousness of the charge. Paul’s persistence suggests he’s not just chasing headlines but demanding transparency on an issue that still haunts public discourse.

Justice or Political Theater?

As this referral heads to the Trump-era DOJ, the question looms: will it yield real investigation or just more partisan noise? Paul’s track record shows he’s not afraid to challenge the medical establishment, often seen as untouchable by those skeptical of overreaching bureaucracies.

Yet, with a pardon already inked, even mechanically, the path to accountability looks steep. Still, Paul’s resolve to push forward keeps the spotlight on whether truth-telling in government is a principle worth defending.

This saga isn’t over, and it shouldn’t be. If we let allegations of deceit during a crisis fade under the weight of political expediency, we risk normalizing a dangerous precedent for future emergencies.