Article By Frank Bergman
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has revealed that Barack Obama’s administration gave Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates one of the federal government’s highest security clearances that lasted throughout Dr. Anthony Fauci’s tenure leading the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
The revelation emerged during Wednesday’s Senate hearing examining Fauci’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the hearing, the former Biden White House health adviser invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times rather than answer lawmakers’ questions.
Paul entered into the Congressional Record a Department of Energy letter confirming that Gates held a “Q security clearance” from 2014 through 2021.
The clearance was granted during former President Barack Obama’s administration and remained active throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gates Held One of Government’s Highest Security Clearances
According to the Department of Energy letter obtained by Paul, Gates possessed a DOE “Q clearance” from 2014 until 2021.
The clearance covered the entire period of the COVID-19 pandemic and overlapped with Fauci’s tenure as director of NIAID.
A DOE “Q clearance” is one of the federal government’s highest security authorizations and is typically required for access to classified information involving nuclear weapons, national laboratories, critical energy infrastructure, and highly sensitive scientific research.
Recipients undergo extensive background investigations and remain subject to continuing review while holding the clearance.
Paul Raises Questions About Gates’ Role
Paul has long questioned the role of federal agencies and private organizations in funding dangerous virus research.
Speaking to Fox News in 2023, Paul argued that responsibility for the pandemic extends beyond Chinese authorities.
“The blame equally should go not only to Chinese authorities, but to Anthony Fauci and all those who advocated for this,” Paul said.
“Look, Bill Gates has been over there recently.
“Bill Gates is the largest funder of trying to find these viruses in remote caves and bring them to big cities.
“What happened in China is they went 8 to 10 hours south of Wuhan, 2 to 300 feet deep into a cave, found viruses and took them back to a city of 15 million.”
Previously released emails have shown Fauci communicating during the pandemic with Gates Foundation officials, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Chinese health officials.
Fauci Pleads the Fifth More Than 100 Times
The hearing quickly became dominated by Fauci’s repeated refusal to answer questions.
As Republicans pressed him over NIH-funded research, the origins of COVID-19, and previous testimony before Congress, Fauci responded with the same statement over and over:
“On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.”
According to the hearing record, Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during the nearly three-hour hearing.
The repeated refusals drew immediate criticism from Republicans, who argued the American people deserved answers about the government’s handling of the pandemic.
CNN Legal Analyst Says Fauci’s Strategy Could Backfire
Even CNN’s legal analyst questioned Fauci’s decision to repeatedly invoke the Fifth Amendment.
During CNN’s “OutFront,” host Erin Burnett asked NYU law professor Ryan Goodman whether Fauci’s legal strategy would ultimately protect him.
“Ryan, 112 times to invoke the Fifth Amendment,” Burnett said.
“I mean, you can’t even string all that together.
“That obviously sends a message.
“Will that strategy work?
“Because he says, ‘Well, I had to do that because, you know, they’re looking for perjury traps’ – or does that just make it worse?
“And is he in real trouble?”
Goodman responded bluntly.
“I think it makes it worse,” he said.
Goodman noted that former President Joe Biden had already issued Fauci a pardon covering actions taken before January 2025, making his blanket refusal to testify legally questionable.
“It’s even a curious way in which you wonder what his legal advice was, why they decided to do that, because he does not face criminal jeopardy for the pardon; in all likelihood, he’s pardoned for all actions before January 2025,” Goodman said.
He added that the pardon could actually eliminate Fauci’s ability to invoke the Fifth Amendment.
“But that also means that you’re forced to testify,” Goodman said.
“So then to plead the Fifth is actually, he could then be held in contempt; there could be, theoretically at least, a Justice Department that goes after him for not answering when he is not really facing criminal charges.”
WATCH:
CNN Legal Analyst: Fauci Hurt Himself by Pleading the Fifth More Than 100 Times
The hearing has intensified scrutiny over Fauci’s pandemic-era decisions while raising new questions about Gates’ previously undisclosed top-level Department of Energy security clearance during the same period.
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