https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dr-anth...k-the-takeout/


Dr. Anthony Fauci left his post as the government's top infectious disease expert last week, but that hasn't stopped the attacks from high-profile critics like Twitter owner Elon Musk. On Sunday, Musk tweeted that this week he'd release the so-called "Fauci Files," thought to be internal Twitter documents, though their content and relevance is unclear.

"I have no idea what [Musk]'s talking about. I mean, there's a lot of misinformation, conspiracy theories and disinformation going on," Fauci said. "I have nothing to say to him. I don't understand what he's doing. It's just unfortunate."

In December, Musk tweeted "My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci" and he suggested he had unearthed messages exchanged between Twitter executives and government health officials that related to their handling of the pandemic.

"I don't have a clue of what he's talking about," Fauci told CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett on this week's episode of "The Takeout." The interview was Fauci's first since leaving his government post.

House Republicans, who will have subpoena power in the new Congress, have said they want to investigate the Biden administration's handling of the pandemic, and that means Fauci, a lightning rod for conservatives, is almost certain to be called to testify.

"I would willingly do that without any problem," Fauci said, adding that he plans to retain legal counsel. "But I have nothing to hide. I could defend everything I've done."

Fauci said he and his family continue to receive death threats. He still has a protective detail, provided by the U.S. Marshals at taxpayer expense.

"I'd hate to think for the rest of my life that I was going to have people who were crazy enough to want to harm me because I have done things that have saved millions of lives. That's kind of — how do you get your arms around that?" he said.