“Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-diseases expert and the face of the U.S. response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, is facing growing threats to his personal safety, prompting the government to step up his security … ” – The Washington Post, April 1, 2020
Health officials have reportedly increased security for White House coronavirus expert Dr. Fauci after threats
April 2, 2020
Business Insider – Dr. Anthony Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who is a leading member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, is said to have increased security protection because of threats made to his personal safety.
Sources told The Washington Post that the 79-year-old’s safety had recently become an issue for Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, as Fauci has become a more visible — and sometimes critical — member of the Trump administration’s coronavirus response.
Fauci often appears with President Donald Trump during the daily White House coronavirus press briefings, and he has maintained a practical, blunt demeanor that clashed with Trump’s previously optimistic messaging regarding the outbreak’s outlook.
Recently, Fauci pushed back on Trump’s public desire to lift coronavirus mitigation efforts by Easter, and he has said the US is likely to see “millions of cases” of COVID-19 and more than 100,000 deaths in the months to come.
“I can tell you absolutely that I tell the president, the vice president and everyone on the task force what exactly the scientific data is and what the evidence is,” Fauci said in March 13 testimony before Congress, adding, “I have never, ever held back telling exactly what is going on from a public-health standpoint.”
An official with knowledge of the request told The Post that the Department of Health and Human Services asked the US Marshals Service — a federal law-enforcement agency within the Department of Justice — to provide “protective services” for Fauci.
The request was then moved up the ranks to the deputy attorney general, who recommended that the measure be approved, according to the report. Read more.
Dr. Anthony Fauci forced to beef up security as death threats increase
April 2, 2020
CNN – Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top medical expert on the coronavirus pandemic and a member of President Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force, is facing threats to his personal safety and now requires personal security from law enforcement at all times, including at his home, a source confirms to CNN.
A law enforcement official told CNN that the Health and Human Services Inspector General asked the US Marshals Service for assistance following threats to Fauci. The Marshals then deputized HHS officers to act as personal security for the doctor.
A source also confirmed to CNN last week the presence of several members of the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department stationed at all times around Fauci’s home in the district.
The source added the stepped up visible police presence was a response to growing threats to Fauci’s safety, though the source of the threats was not identified.
During the White House coronavirus task force briefing with reporters on Wednesday, Fauci was asked whether he had received threats of any kind or whether he had been assigned a security detail. He said he was not able to answer.
“Anything that has to do with security detail I would have to have you (ask your question) to the inspector general of HHS,” he said.
Fauci’s response was quickly interrupted by Trump, who stepped up to the podium to say the nation’s most visible infectious disease expert doesn’t require protection.
“(He) doesn’t need security, everybody loves them,” said Trump. “Besides that, they’d be in big trouble if they ever attacked.” Read more.
