Senate Committee Votes to Hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in Contempt of Congress
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted along party lines (8-5 or 8-7) to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions about the COVID-19 pandemic, invoking his Fifth Amendment rights. Chairman Rand Paul argues the pardon from former President Biden invalidates Fauci’s Fifth Amendment claim. The resolution will be sent to Vice President J.D. Vance and then to the Department of Justice for potential prosecution. Democrats criticize the process as a rushed political stunt. If convicted, Fauci faces up to one year in prison.
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GOP Senate Panel Votes to Hold Fauci in Contempt of Congress
The Senate Homeland Security Committee, led by Chair Sen. Rand Paul, voted along party lines on Thursday to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions during testimony on the federal COVID-19 response. Republicans argued Fauci could not invoke his Fifth Amendment rights because he had received a preemptive pardon from former President Joe Biden. However, GOP lawmakers also openly acknowledged they hoped to get Fauci to perjure himself. Fauci's lawyer called the vote a crude political stunt. The contempt referral was hand-delivered to federal prosecutors, bypassing the full Senate, raising questions about its legal validity. The Justice Department confirmed receipt and said it is reviewing the matter. If prosecuted and convicted, Fauci faces up to one year in prison.
Senate GOP Panel Votes to Hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in Contempt of Congress
The U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee, led by Chair Sen. Rand Paul, voted along party lines to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for repeatedly refusing to answer questions during testimony on the federal COVID-19 response. Republicans argued Fauci could not invoke his Fifth Amendment rights due to a preemptive pardon from former President Joe Biden. However, GOP lawmakers openly acknowledged they hoped to get Fauci to perjure himself, potentially bringing new charges. Fauci's lawyer called the vote a 'crude political stunt.' The contempt referral was hand-delivered to federal prosecutors, bypassing the full Senate, raising questions about its legal validity. The Justice Department is reviewing the referral; if charges are filed and a conviction obtained, Fauci faces up to one year in prison.
GOP Senate Panel Votes to Refer Dr. Anthony Fauci for Contempt of Congress
The U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee, led by Chair Sen. Rand Paul, voted along party lines on Thursday to hold former infectious disease chief Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions during testimony on the federal COVID-19 response. Republicans argued Fauci could not invoke his Fifth Amendment rights due to a preemptive pardon from former President Joe Biden. However, GOP lawmakers openly acknowledged they hoped to get Fauci to perjure himself. Fauci's lawyer called the vote a 'crude political stunt.' The contempt referral was hand-delivered to federal prosecutors, bypassing the full Senate, raising questions about its legal validity. The Justice Department said it received the referral and will review it. If prosecuted and convicted, Fauci faces up to one year in prison.
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Senate Committee Votes to Hold Fauci in Contempt, Referral to DOJ Sparks Debate on Fifth Amendment Rights
A Senate committee voted along party lines to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions at a hearing on his COVID-19 pandemic handling, invoking his Fifth Amendment rights over 100 times. Republican Chairman Rand Paul argues the pardon from President Biden eliminates self-incrimination risk, while Democrats say the vote punishes constitutional rights and sets a dangerous precedent for future witnesses to refuse to appear. The contempt referral will go to the Justice Department, though prosecution is not guaranteed. Fauci's lawyer calls it a political vendetta.
Republicans Move to Hold Anthony Fauci in Contempt of Congress
A Republican-led U.S. Senate committee has voted to pursue contempt of Congress charges against Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former top immunologist who became a central figure in the COVID-19 pandemic response. The action follows Fauci's refusal to answer questions during a hearing, where he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination over 100 times. Committee Chairman Rand Paul argues that a preemptive pardon from former President Joe Biden nullifies Fauci's right to remain silent. Fauci's lawyer denies any wrongdoing and accuses Paul of a personal vendetta. The full Senate or the Department of Justice may now decide whether to pursue criminal prosecution. The dispute is part of a broader Republican effort to investigate the origins of the pandemic and Fauci's role in U.S. health policy.
Senate Committee Passes Contempt Resolution Against Dr. Anthony Fauci
The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted along party lines (8-7) to pass a contempt of Congress resolution against Dr. Anthony Fauci. The resolution, pushed by Chairman Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), alleges Fauci's invocation of Fifth Amendment rights is 'unsupported' due to a prior pardon from former President Joe Biden. Fauci's lawyer, David Schertler, called the resolution 'meritless' and a 'political stunt,' asserting Fauci is on solid legal ground. Sen. Paul plans to send the criminal referral directly to the Department of Justice, bypassing a full Senate vote which would require 60 votes. Democrats accused Paul of a rushed, one-sided investigation. Contempt of Congress is a federal misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison.
Senate Committee Votes to Hold Anthony Fauci in Contempt of Congress
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 8-5 along party lines to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he pleaded the Fifth Amendment during a hearing. Committee Chair Senator Rand Paul, who has long sought to punish Fauci for his role in the Covid-19 response, warned of repercussions. Fauci, former director of the NIAID, had previously been pardoned by President Joe Biden for allegedly lying to Congress in 2023, a claim never proven. The contempt referral will go to Vice President JD Vance for sign-off, then to the Justice Department, which will decide whether to bring charges. Legal experts say charges are unlikely to succeed, and the process is procedurally unusual.
Senate Committee Votes to Hold Anthony Fauci in Contempt of Congress
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 8-5 along party lines to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he pleaded the Fifth Amendment during a hearing. Committee Chair Senator Rand Paul, a longtime critic of Fauci's role in the Covid-19 pandemic response, warned of repercussions. The contempt referral will be sent to Vice President JD Vance for approval, then to the Justice Department, which will decide whether to bring charges. Legal experts doubt the charges would succeed. The move follows a previous unproven accusation of lying to Congress, for which Fauci received a pardon from former President Joe Biden. House Oversight Chairman James Comer also released unredacted pages from Fauci's pandemic-era diary, which Fauci called an attempt to embarrass and intimidate him.
Senate Committee Votes to Hold Anthony Fauci in Contempt of Congress
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 8-5 along party lines to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify, invoking his Fifth Amendment rights during a recent hearing. Committee Chair Senator Rand Paul, a longtime critic of Fauci's role in the Covid-19 pandemic, warned of repercussions. Paul had previously accused Fauci of lying to Congress in 2023, a claim never proven and later pardoned by former President Joe Biden. House Oversight Chairman James Comer posted excerpts from Fauci's pandemic-era diary, which Fauci said was intended to intimidate him. The contempt referral will go to Vice President JD Vance and then to the Justice Department, which will decide whether to bring charges. Legal experts doubt the charges would succeed in court, and the process is described as having little precedent.
Senate Committee Passes Fauci Contempt Resolution Along Party Lines
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 8-7 along party lines to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions during a hearing. The resolution, pushed by Chairman Sen. Rand Paul, alleges Fauci's Fifth Amendment claim is 'unsupported' because former President Joe Biden pardoned him. Paul plans to send the criminal referral directly to the Department of Justice, bypassing a full Senate vote that would require 60 votes. Democrats, led by Sen. Gary Peters, accused Paul of a rushed, one-sided investigation. Fauci's lawyers maintain he is on 'solid legal ground' to invoke the Fifth Amendment, citing potential state or local prosecution not covered by the federal pardon. The contempt charge is a federal misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison.
Fauci could face criminal contempt charge following panel vote
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 8-5 on August 6, 2026, to hold former NIH official Anthony Fauci in criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions about the COVID-19 pandemic during a hearing the previous week. Chairman Rand Paul argued that Fauci obstructed an ongoing Senate investigation by invoking his Fifth Amendment rights. Democrats accused Republicans of conducting a witch hunt and violating Fauci's constitutional rights. Paul indicated he would send the resolution directly to Vice President J.D. Vance for certification and refer Fauci to the Justice Department for prosecution. President Joe Biden had issued Fauci a preemptive pardon covering federal offenses from 2014 to 2025, which Republicans criticized as an attempt to shield Fauci from accountability.
Fauci Faces Contempt Vote Today (Live Updates)
Senator Rand Paul is leading a contempt of Congress resolution against Dr. Anthony Fauci, arguing that Fauci's invocation of Fifth Amendment rights is invalid due to a prior pardon from President Biden. The vote is taking place in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where Republicans hold a majority. Paul intends to send the criminal referral directly to the Department of Justice, bypassing a full Senate vote. Democrats, led by Sen. Gary Peters, criticize the process as rushed and one-sided. Legal experts are divided: some support Fauci's right to remain silent due to potential state-level prosecution, while Paul contends the pardon eliminates any risk of federal charges. Fauci's lawyers maintain he is on solid legal ground. If held in contempt, Fauci could face a federal misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison.