Newly released text messages from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s government-issued phone reveal he privately expressed concerns about COVID vaccine risks to pregnant women in January 2021 while publicly stating there were no safety issues—a disclosure now driving multiple congressional and state investigations into potential deception of the American public.
Private Warnings Contradict Public Statements
Republican Senators Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rand Paul of Kentucky released the text messages on Monday, showing Fauci worried in January 2021 that the second dose of the COVID shot could theoretically be associated with first trimester miscarriage. The messages exchanged between Fauci, then-CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, and then-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy paint a starkly different picture from his public pronouncements during the same period.
NEW: Dr. Fauci was concerned in January 2021 that the second dose of the COVID shot “theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester.”
@SenRandPaul and I released the texts between Anthony Fauci, Rochelle Walensky, and Vivek Murthy below.
While I’ve… pic.twitter.com/jktB1PxfPL— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) August 10, 2026
Just weeks after expressing private concerns, Fauci told the public on February 3, 2021, that the FDA had found no red flags regarding pregnant women receiving the vaccine. By August 2021, he was even more emphatic, stating that tens of thousands of vaccinated pregnant women showed no indication of increased adverse issues compared to unvaccinated pregnant women, and declaring it was pretty clear pregnant women should get vaccinated.
Congressional Investigation Expands
Senator Johnson announced on social media that his investigation has only just begun now that he has obtained documents and Fauci’s government-issued phone. The Wisconsin senator emphasized that while he has conducted oversight for years, access to these communications represents a significant escalation in his inquiry into potential public health messaging inconsistencies during the pandemic response.
Senator Paul, a physician himself, joined Johnson in releasing the text exchanges, adding congressional weight to questions about whether federal health officials withheld safety concerns from Americans making critical healthcare decisions for themselves and their families during the vaccine rollout.
Florida Pushes State-Level Accountability
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier told Fox News on Monday that the Sunshine State’s investigation into Fauci continues, with additional subpoenas expected as investigators gather evidence from the cellphone and other potential devices. Uthmeier stated the probe aims to determine how widespread the deception went, noting Fauci was simultaneously pursuing fame and fortune through book deals and awards worth millions of dollars while people suffered.
Uthmeier concluded that there is clearly a deception that harmed Americans, vowing Florida will keep seeking accountability. Unlike federal pardons, state-level investigations cannot be dismissed by presidential clemency, giving Florida unique authority to pursue charges if evidence warrants prosecution under state law.
Questions About Public Trust
The revelations raise fundamental questions about transparency in public health communications during emergencies. Federal officials hold enormous influence over American healthcare decisions, and any gap between private concerns and public guidance could undermine trust in future health directives. The text messages suggest potential awareness of risks that were not fully communicated to the public during a critical period when millions of pregnant women were making vaccination decisions based on official federal health guidance.