Trump suggests Fauci should be prosecuted

US President Donald Trump and Senator Rand Paul have called for the prosecution of Dr. Anthony Fauci over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing alleged wrongdoing.

‌U.S. President ​Donald Trump on Thursday suggested that Dr. Anthony Fauci should be prosecuted, hours after ‌Republican Senator Rand Paul said that he would ask the Justice Department to do so.

Paul said he wanted action after Fauci ‌refused to answer questions about the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci, who led ‌the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for 38 years, became the face of the response and a primary target of anger over ⁠measures ​taken against a ⁠virus that killed more than 1.1 million Americans.

When asked if the Justice ⁠Department should prosecute Fauci, Trump told reporters that former aides Peter ​Navarro and Steve Bannon had faced similar action "over something that ⁠essentially was never prosecuted before, and there are sort of telltale signs of ⁠similarity." The ​Republican president added: "When you see that happen, you sort of say maybe he should (be prosecuted). What he did ⁠is far more serious than a lot of crimes, frankly."

Paul's demand followed ⁠a ⁠hearing last week where Fauci invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination more than 100 times.