Senate committee votes to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt
A Republican-led Senate committee voted Thursday to advance a resolution to hold former White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a contentious hearing last week.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the measure by a party-line vote after Chairman Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., argued Fauci unlawfully refused to answer lawmakers’ questions despite appearing under subpoena on July 29.
Paul can refer Fauci to the Justice Department for prosecution or request a full Senate vote on the measure.
Paul has argued that a pardon issued by former President Joe Biden covering Fauci’s federal conduct through early 2025 stripped him of the ability to invoke the Fifth Amendment.
The vote marks the latest chapter in a rivalry that has spanned the Covid-19 pandemic. Paul has repeatedly accused Fauci of misleading Congress about U.S.-funded virology research and the origins of the coronavirus, allegations Fauci has consistently denied. Their televised exchanges over pandemic restrictions, masks and gain-of-function research became some of the most heated exchanges of congressional oversight during the public health emergency.
Last week’s hearing quickly deteriorated after Fauci announced in his opening statement that he would invoke the Fifth Amendment and decline to answer questions. Fauci said Paul’s repeated calls for his prosecution, along with other actions targeting him, convinced him the hearing was intended to build a criminal case rather than gather facts.
During the hearing, Paul and some lawmakers sought to question Fauci about his handwritten pandemic diary entries, federal research funding and the government’s pandemic response. He ultimately refused to answer more than 100 questions from lawmakers.
Paul responded by warning Fauci there would be “repercussions” for refusing to testify and announced he would pursue contempt proceedings. The hearing grew even more chaotic when Fauci’s attorney, David Schertler, attempted to address the committee after Paul concluded questioning. Paul ruled the attorney out of order and directed Capitol Police to escort him from the hearing room.
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Ebony Davis is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked at CNN as a campaign reporter covering elections and politics.
Clarissa-Jan Lim is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW. She was previously a senior reporter and editor at BuzzFeed News.
