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Senate Homeland Security Committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress
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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.
Source report
What Happened
The Senate Homeland Security Committee voted along party lines on Thursday to hold former U.S. infectious disease chief Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. The charge stems from Fauci's repeated refusal to answer questions during testimony on the federal response to Covid-19.
Committee Chair Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and other Republicans argued that Fauci could not invoke his Fifth Amendment rights "because he'd already received a preemptive pardon from former President Joe Biden," according to CNN. However, CNN also reported that "GOP lawmakers also openly acknowledged" last week that they "hoped to get Fauci to perjure himself in his testimony, allowing them to bring new charges."
Who Said What
- Sen. Rand Paul: "Fauci faced no risk of federal prosecution. All he had to do was tell the truth."
- Fauci's lawyer: Called the vote a "crude political stunt" to "punish" a public servant for "exercising his constitutional rights."
According to Politico, Paul appears so "hellbent on putting Fauci in jail" that his office immediately hand-delivered the contempt resolution to federal prosecutors. The Wall Street Journal noted that contempt referrals "rarely bypass the full Senate" and that "it isn't clear whether a referral made in such a manner is legally valid."
What Next?
The Justice Department said Thursday evening it had received Paul's referral, is "reviewing it and will work with the Senate accordingly." If prosecutors decide to file charges and win a conviction, Fauci faces up to a year in prison.
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Senate Committee Votes to Hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in Contempt of Congress