Sen. Rand Paul, chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced that his panel will hold a vote next week on whether to certify Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after Fauci refused to answer questions at his high‑profile hearing. During Wednesday’s hearing, Fauci, appearing under subpoena, repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self‑incrimination, declining to respond to more than 90 questions about issues including the destruction of federal records and the origins of COVID‑19.
Paul argued that Fauci’s reliance on the Fifth is “unsupported” because former President Joe Biden granted him a broad pardon for potential federal offenses between 2014 and early 2025, and said the committee would move forward with a contempt resolution despite the claimed privilege. At the hearing, Paul pressed Fauci on whether he had destroyed emails or other records during the period covered by the pardon, emphasizing that Fauci would face no federal criminal jeopardy for truthful answers but still refused to respond on counsel’s advice which raised questions.
Hellbound and Down 