Declassified Docs Reveal Fauci Whistleblower Complaint Was Routed to Biden Political Appointee Instead of Independent Inspector General

Washington, D.C. — Outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released internal memos and documents this week revealing that the Biden administration directed an intelligence community whistleblower complaint alleging Dr. Anthony Fauci lied to Congress about gain-of-function research to a political appointee rather than an independent inspector general.

The materials, declassified and made public on Gabbard’s final day in office, detail a formal complaint accusing Fauci of providing false testimony to Congress regarding the National Institutes of Health’s funding and oversight of coronavirus research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The complaint described Fauci’s statements as misleading to both Congress and the American people.

According to the released documents, the whistleblower — an intelligence community official — alleged that Fauci’s testimony on gain-of-function research was inaccurate and potentially subject to further scrutiny. The complaint was submitted through proper channels to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Instead of routing the matter to the independent Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Acting Intelligence Community Inspector General Tamara Johnson referred it to then-HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Biden political appointee. Johnson’s Aug. 11, 2021, letter to then-DNI Avril Haines explained the decision by noting that disputes over gain-of-function research were already public, making a referral to HHS-OIG unlikely to yield new action.

The memos also reference a June 2021 CIA briefing in which Fauci discussed evidence that three researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology had fallen ill in fall 2019. Fauci reportedly identified key information gaps, including medical records, blood samples from the sick researchers, and whether China had been asked for details. Despite this discussion, Fauci continued publicly promoting a natural origin for the virus linked to a Wuhan wet market.

Gabbard stated that the documents expose how Fauci and politicized elements within the intelligence community worked to suppress information about U.S.-funded research at Wuhan and the possibility of a lab-related origin for COVID-19. She described the tactics as “straight from the deep state playbook,” accusing officials of covering up wrongdoing, manipulating intelligence assessments, lying to Congress, and limiting a duly elected president’s access to critical facts.

The released correspondence directly conflicts with Fauci’s 2024 testimony before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. In that appearance, Fauci was questioned about contacts with the FBI, CIA, DIA, or other intelligence agencies concerning viral research and repeatedly stated he had no such knowledge or discussions regarding COVID-related matters.

Fauci has consistently denied lying to Congress or engaging in any cover-up. He received a pardon from President Joe Biden before leaving office. Republican senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson have called for the Department of Justice to examine the legality of the pardon — reportedly executed via autopen — and pursue accountability for Fauci’s actions.

The whistleblower complaint and related memos form part of a broader set of declassified materials Gabbard authorized for release, highlighting internal debates over pandemic origins, U.S. funding of high-risk research abroad, and intelligence community handling of dissenting views on a possible lab incident. U.S. intelligence agencies have remained divided on COVID-19 origins, with the FBI and Department of Energy assessing a lab-related incident as likely, while others have leaned toward natural spillover or reached no firm conclusion.

The documents underscore long-standing concerns about transparency in the early handling of the pandemic and the protection of officials involved in controversial research funding decisions. Gabbard framed the release as delivering long-overdue accountability, stating that the American people deserve the full story after years of alleged censorship and suppression of inconvenient facts.

The full memos, including the whistleblower complaint summary and CIA briefing notes, are now publicly available through official channels.