Sen. Rand Paul weighs in on federal law enforcement, war powers and public trust

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, addressed a range of national and international issues during an appearance Thursday on WDRB Mornings, including federal law enforcement activity, government spending, foreign policy and public health accountability.

Asked about recent developments in Minneapolis following a shooting involving a federal agent and comments about potentially deploying troops, Paul called the situation "a tragedy" and said he believes local law enforcement is often better equipped to handle public safety concerns.

"I would rather see policing done more at the local level," Paul said. "I think our local police are better trained to understand First Amendment protests and how to keep people safe without causing undue harm."

Paul said federal authorities become involved when local governments don't cooperate with federal law, adding that improved cooperation could reduce the federal presence.

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"If the local authorities would cooperate better, I think you'd see less federal police involvement," he said.

Paul also raised concerns about alleged misuse of federal funds, saying oversight is necessary to maintain public trust and ensure assistance reaches those who truly need it.

"We don't have enough money to barely take care of the people who legitimately need help," Paul said. "We certainly don't need to be letting fraudsters rip us off."

On foreign policy, Paul emphasized the role of Congress in authorizing military action, calling the issue an ongoing constitutional debate that extends beyond any single administration.

"The Constitution is very clear about who gets to make these decisions," Paul said. "Only Congress can declare war."

Discussing Iran, Paul said the U.S. should show support for protesters while avoiding actions that could escalate conflict or shift public sentiment.

"I don't think our bombs help them," he said.

Paul also reiterated his criticism of former federal health officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, accusing them of misleading Congress and mishandling public records.

"I think he's broken the law on several occasions," Paul said. "And yes, I think that he should be indicted."

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