BATON ROUGE — Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Saturday her office will join Alabama and Florida in an investigation into Dr. Anthony Fauci after a volatile Senate hearing in which the former federal health official repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment.
The announcement came in a social media statement in which Murrill said investigators have uncovered contemporaneous records that undercut Fauci's earlier testimony in depositions by state officials, including Missouri. Murrill wrote that those records raise questions about whether Fauci "committed any other offenses that could be pursued in our State courts."
"Fauci lied," Murrill wrote in her post.
The disclosure follows a congressional hearing in which Dr. Fauci declined to answer many questions, invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination more than once. Media reports from the hearing said he asserted the Fifth Amendment 111 times while facing questions about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and contemporaneous notes he kept.
What Louisiana's move means
For Louisiana, the decision to join the probe places the state's legal apparatus alongside other Republican-led states pursuing a scrutiny of Fauci's actions while he was director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The move also drew quick support from Gov. Jeff Landry, who — on social media — described himself as pleased at the state's participation, noting his own experience deposing Fauci when he served as attorney general.
"As someone who was Attorney General alongside Eric Schmitt, and deposed Dr. Fauci, I am happy to have Louisiana join Alabama and Florida!" Gov. Jeff Landry wrote on X.
State investigations can pursue violations of state law even when federal proceedings are limited or when federal pardons are raised as potential protections. Murrill's statement referenced prior depositions, contemporaneous records and the possibility of state-level offenses, but did not enumerate specific allegations or charges.
Known facts and immediate context
- Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment repeatedly during a recent Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing.
- Attorney General Murrill said Louisiana will join Alabama and Florida in an investigation.
- Murrill referenced contemporaneous records and earlier depositions, including by Missouri.
- Gov. Jeff Landry publicly supported the decision on social media.
The precise scope, timeline and investigative team for Louisiana's involvement were not detailed in Murrill's announcement. State attorneys general typically coordinate such inquiries through interagency agreements or joint investigative teams, but the method Louisiana will use has not been disclosed.
How this fits into the larger picture
The development comes amid intensified scrutiny of public health officials' decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple states have opened inquiries into pandemic-era federal policies and actions, a pattern that has become a partisan flashpoint across the country. In Louisiana, which bore a heavy early pandemic burden, the announcement adds a local note to a national debate.
| State | Official | Role in probe |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | Attorney General Liz Murrill | Joining investigation |
| Alabama | — | Leading partner |
| Florida | — | Joining partner |
That table summarizes publicly known involvement; officials in the other states were referenced in Murrill's statement but specific leadership roles or coordinating arrangements were not described in the announcement.
What to watch next
- Whether Murrill's office releases additional records or a formal statement of investigative scope.
- Any subpoenas, interviews or grand-jury actions announced by Louisiana authorities.
- Coordination statements or press releases from Alabama and Florida detailing a joint approach.
The news lands in Louisiana amid a humid summer of political noise and legal maneuvering. For now, the state's move signals a continuing willingness by state officials to pursue inquiries into pandemic decision-making — and it promises more press releases, filings and legal wrangling in the months to come.
The attorney general's office did not immediately provide further details beyond the social media post announcing the investigation. As the story develops, state residents and public health observers will be watching for documents or testimony that clarify exactly what investigators hope to prove under state law.
