Dr. Anthony Fauci’s government security detail was canceled Thursday night and he has now hired his own security detail, according to a person familiar with the move.
Dr. Fauci, one of the country’s top health officials for decades, received death threats during the coronavirus pandemic, when he became a frequent target of conservative critics. In May 2022, West Virginia The man pleaded guilty For sending him and other federal officials emails that threatened to kill them and their families.
Dr. Fauci did not have Secret Service protection; The person said he was protected by federal marshals, and later by a private contractor paid by the government.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Dr. Fauci’s chief critic on Capitol Hill, has called for Dr. Fauci’s security arrangement.
On Thursday, Mr. Paul he wrote on social media He “sent the supporting information to terminate the 24 hours a day limo and security details for Flushi,” adding, “I wish him nothing but peace but he needs to pay for his limo.”
The comments came hours after Mr Paul criticized the pre-emptive pardon of Dr Fuki V Appearance on Fox Newssaying that accepting Dr. Fauci’s pardon was “accepting his guilt.”
He is the latest prominent former government official to lose his security protection since President Trump returned to the White House. The decision came one day after Mr. Trump canceled the State Department security detail for the former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and another aide, Brian Hook. Both men have faced ongoing threats from Iran over actions they took on behalf of Mr. Trump during his first administration.
Mr. Trump also pulled the Secret Service detail that was protecting another of his prominent critics, john r. Boltonformer National Security Advisor.
