Senate Panel to Vote on Contempt Resolution Against Fauci

A Senate panel is preparing to vote on a resolution to hold former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. This follows a heated COVID-19 hearing where Fauci used his Fifth Amendment rights over a hundred times.

Fox News reports that the Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has obtained a cellphone used by Fauci during his time with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Although the phone has been transferred to the subcommittee chaired by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., it is unclear if they can access its contents.

The panel’s decision to investigate Fauci comes after HHS released more than 1,000 pages of his personal diary ahead of a pivotal hearing. During this event, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., subpoenaed Fauci, questioning his involvement in funding gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China.

During the hearing, Fauci, citing legal advice, pleaded the Fifth Amendment to avoid self-incrimination. He stated, “Although it pains me to do so because of the respect I have for the legislative branch of government and my decades-long record of cooperating with Congress under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions.”

Republicans aggressively questioned Fauci about his role in the alleged lab leak and virus spread, while Democrats defended his constitutional rights against what they saw as a trap.

Sen. Rand Paul has insisted that Fauci should face legal consequences, doubting whether a presidential pardon from former President Joe Biden would fully protect him. Paul remarked on the legal question of whether a presidential pardon could offer complete immunity, causing discussions on the legal implications for Fauci.

As the Senate committee moves towards potentially charging Fauci with contempt, this case continues to draw significant political and public attention, focusing on the pandemic’s origins and Fauci’s role in the response.