Republican-led Senate committee votes to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress

Published Aug 7, 05:53 AM UTC

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.

Content shown outside its original language is machine translated and condensed.