President Donald Trump denied instructing Attorney General Todd Blanche or Washington U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to prosecute Dr. Anthony Fauci, distancing himself from a criminal contempt push initiated by Senate Republicans. The refusal to direct prosecution comes as the Justice Department reviews a referral from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which voted along party lines to hold Fauci in contempt after he invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a July 29 hearing regarding COVID-19 origins.

DOJ Reviews Contempt Referral

Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-Ky.) delivered the criminal referral to the Department of Justice (DOJ) last Thursday, arguing that the action falls outside the ordinary bill-making process and does not require approval from the House, the president, or the full Senate. The DOJ confirmed receipt of the referral, stating it is "reviewing it and will work with the Senate accordingly." Legal experts have questioned whether a committee-only referral holds legal force without full Senate approval, while Fauci’s attorney described the effort as politically motivated.

Trump Distances From Prosecution Push

In an interview with Semafor’s Shelby Talcott on Monday, Trump explicitly stated, "I have not spoken to them about that, no," when asked if he had discussed prosecuting Fauci with Blanche or Pirro. This statement contrasts with earlier comments where Trump suggested Fauci should face prosecution, comparing his case to former advisers Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro, who served prison terms for contempt of Congress. Blanche, Trump’s former personal lawyer, was confirmed as attorney general by a 50-49 vote and sworn in on Monday. During his confirmation, Blanche told senators that "political prosecutions should never happen."

New Evidence Sparks Scrutiny

The dispute intensified on Monday when Paul and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) released initial messages from Fauci’s government phone. Johnson’s office indicated the device contained more than 34,000 texts and 522 voicemails. Among the released communications was a January 2021 exchange in which Fauci wrote that a second COVID-19 vaccine dose "theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester," while noting there were "no data" favoring vaccination earlier or later in pregnancy.

CDC Data Contradicts Claims

Subsequent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveillance found no increased miscarriage risk associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccination during early pregnancy. Fauci maintains that he properly invoked his constitutional rights during the hearing. The DOJ now faces the decision of whether to pursue Paul’s referral, with the outcome potentially setting a precedent for congressional oversight and executive branch cooperation.

President Donald Trump reportedly executed a covert switch from Air Force One to a smaller aircraft while departing Ankara, Turkey, last month, citing a credible Iranian assassination threat during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit. The Washington Post reported on Monday that the President moved to an Air Force C-32A with the call sign "Reach 18" via a catering truck positioned on the opposite side of the tarmac. This maneuver occurred after Trump waved at the press upon entering the original Air Force One, which served as a decoy carrying reporters and White House staff who were unaware of his absence.

The security protocol involved significant deception, with journalists on the decoy aircraft instructed to keep window shades down. When questioned about this directive, Trump stated they were on "a dangerous flight" and that he was under constant threat. He told reporters, "But if I go, you go. Right? Perhaps someday you want to change professions," according to the report. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding these operational details.

Aviation Tracking Data

Aviation tracking data cited in the report provides a timeline of the movements involving the Qatar-gifted Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) 747-8 jet and the decoy aircraft. Trump had previously stated he would not board the Qatar-gifted jet for departure but would use Air Force One. However, data suggests a different sequence of events at Mildenhall air base in Britain.

The report noted that it remains unclear how Trump exited the C-32A and boarded the Qatari jet. He was seen emerging from the old Air Force One close to 11:00 p.m. before boarding the Qatari jet for the return flight to Washington.

Geopolitical Context

This security operation unfolded as U.S.-Iran talks broke down, with tensions remaining high between the two nations. The Iranian government has demanded compensation from the U.S. for damages sustained during recent strikes, citing this as a condition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Trump reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz was open and stated he would also seek compensation from Iran. The incident underscores the heightened security measures surrounding the President amidst ongoing geopolitical friction and the breakdown of diplomatic negotiations.