Rand Paul reissues a criminal referral for Fauci as Trump, GOP escalate criticism of Biden’s autopen signature controversy.

Rand Paul Presses DOJ on Fauci as Signature Scandal Expands

Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, has again filed a criminal referral against Dr. Anthony Fauci, renewing scrutiny of the former top infectious disease official as controversy swirls over President Joe Biden’s use of the autopen for official documents and pardons. The announcement, made by Paul on Monday via social media, comes amid intensifying partisan battles over White House decision-making and executive accountability.

Paul, who has repeatedly clashed with Fauci throughout the pandemic, said, “Today I will reissue my criminal referral of Anthony Fauci to Trump DOJ.” The senator’s previous referrals—in 2021 and 2023—focused on accusations that Fauci lied to Congress about federal funding for gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origins of COVID-19. Paul argued, “Perjury is a crime. And Fauci must be held accountable.”

Dr. Fauci, who formerly led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has long been at the center of heated debate over pandemic response, funding, and transparency. His testimony regarding research at Wuhan and federal grants has been a focal point for Paul and other Republican lawmakers pressing for investigations.

Autopen Allegations Fuel GOP Criticism of Biden White House

Paul’s renewed referral coincides with escalating Republican scrutiny of President Biden’s use of the autopen—an automated device used to replicate a signature—on key government documents. According to newly surfaced emails, Biden’s Chief of Staff Jeff Zients gave final approval for the autopen to be used for preemptive pardons, including for Fauci and former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, both critics of President Donald Trump.

The bulk of more than 4,000 clemency documents in Biden’s final months as president were reportedly signed using the autopen. President Trump and congressional Republicans have seized on these revelations to argue that Biden delegated core presidential authority to aides, raising questions about his cognitive fitness and the chain of command in the White House.

Trump has publicly called the episode “one of the biggest scandals that we've had in 50 to 100 years,” insisting, “I guarantee you he knew nothing about what he was signing.” Trump has called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a Justice Department investigation into the autopen practice, while House and Senate Republicans hold committee hearings on the matter.

The autopen issue has become a focal point in GOP messaging about executive authority and transparency, with Republican lawmakers promising further oversight. As Paul’s latest referral advances and investigations unfold, the debate over presidential signatures and accountability is set to remain a flashpoint in Washington.