Lawyers representing Dr Anthony Fauci, the former US infectious disease chief, have set up a legal defence fund on his behalf as federal and state investigations into his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic intensify. The move comes as scrutiny mounts over Fauci's role in the government's pandemic response, including questions about the origins of the virus and his communications during that period.

The fund's launch follows a Senate panel vote to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress, with Senator Rand Paul accusing him of deleting crucial emails and withholding official documents relevant to the Covid-19 origins investigation. Fauci, who led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for decades and became the public face of America's pandemic response, now faces continued calls for accountability from Republican lawmakers.