WASHINGTON — Senator Rand Paul released more than 1,000 pages of journal entries written by Dr. Anthony Fauci and subpoenaed the former public health official to testify before the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

Paul, the chair of the committee, utilized his authority to issue the subpoena without a committee vote. Paul accused Fauci of dishonesty for maintaining in his diary that the virus likely originated from an animal reservoir while telling the public it was implausible that the pathogen came from a laboratory.

The released journal entries cover the period from December 2019 to December 2022, a timeframe that includes his tenure as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and his role as Chief Medical Advisor to the President from 2021 to 2022. He served as the institute’s director for nearly four decades before stepping down in December 2022.

In the entries, he documented his views on the origins of the coronavirus. In a January 2020 diary entry, he wrote that the market was not the source of the virus but was the amplifier. By May 26, 2021, he wrote that he had always said the very high likelihood is that the virus originated naturally from an animal reservoir jumping to a human.

He also noted the uncertainty surrounding the issue. In the same May 26, 2021 entry, he wrote that "no one is 100 percent certain of the origin including me and so I am calling for a thorough investigation."

The journals detail his interactions with President Trump. In a May 21, 2020 entry, he wrote that "it is not hyoperbole [sic] to say that today I am the most famous and talked about person in the country and one of the most recognizable peson [sic] in the world." He added that "POTUS seems to be enamored of me even though I am taking the spotlight away from him."

He recorded tensions regarding his media presence. In a May 23, 2020 entry, he wrote that "the White House is very upset that I am being profiled and it looks like I am putting down the POTUS and becoming a star that outshines him." On March 22, 2020, he noted that "the press is going wild with me" and that he was trying to clarify that the president was talking about hope for therapies although there were no good data.

The entries describe specific confrontations with the former president. He wrote that President Trump pulled him aside ahead of a May 2020 event and used profanity to express anger over economic losses. He later recorded that Trump said "you and I are OK" and confirmed that he respected him.

Further entries detail his frustration with Trump’s handling of the pandemic. In a February 27, 2020 entry, he wrote that he encouraged Trump not to underplay the seriousness of the situation since "if it turns out bad, it would look like he is covering up." By March 14, 2020, he complained that "Trump wants us to do 2 press conferences/day and We now will have no time to do work."

In an August 2020 entry, he referred to the president as an idiot for posting inaccurate figures on COVID-19 deaths. In May 2020, he wrote that Trump is getting out of control in pushing to open up the country. By October 2020, he wrote that Trump is on the campaign trail spewing nonsense and is really out of control.

The journals also document his interactions with other political figures. In a late May 2020 entry, he noted a long conversation on background with a reporter. In an April 2020 entry, he wrote that he was going to arrange for a phone call with David Morens to determine more details regarding claims that Morens signed off on grants. He added that Morens has heard that people are trying to bring me down.

He later testified about his relationship with Morens. On June 3, 2024, he testified before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic that he knew nothing of Dr. Morens’s actions regarding Dr. Daszak, EcoHealth, or his emails. He stated that Dr. Morens was not an adviser to him on institute policy or other substantive issues.

The journals reveal his personal views on Senator Paul. In an April 20, 2021 entry, he wrote that Senator Rand Paul was among those spreading conspiracy theories to try and connect me with the virus from WUHAN. In a July 20, 2021 entry, he recounted a confrontation, writing that he finished by looking him in the eye and telling him that "if anybody is lying here it is he."

He described the personal toll of the political climate. In a December 2022 entry, he wrote that "it is clear that the far, extreme right and Qanon literally hate me." He also corresponded with singer Barbra Streisand, who expressed appreciation for his constant guidance, patience and reassurance during the pandemic.

He has previously addressed the dangers he faced during congressional hearings. In a January 2022 hearing, he told Senator Rand Paul that the attacks put him in danger and "kindl[ing] the crazies out there and I have threats upon my life." He testified before the House in 2024 that there have been credible death threats leading to the arrests of two individuals.