A US Senate committee has voted to hold Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he refused to answer questions during a hearing examining the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision has intensified political divisions over accountability, public health policy and congressional oversight.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led by Republican Senator Rand Paul, approved the contempt resolution after Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a heated hearing. Lawmakers said Fauci declined to provide answers on issues including pandemic decision-making, government research and the origins of COVID-19.
Fauci, who previously served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and became one of the most prominent figures in the US pandemic response, argued that he had legal concerns about answering certain questions. His legal representatives said the move against him was politically motivated and that he was exercising a constitutional protection.
Senator Rand Paul argued that Fauci should have responded to lawmakers’ questions, claiming that a previous presidential pardon removed concerns about possible federal prosecution. Republicans on the committee said the vote was about enforcing congressional authority rather than debating Fauci’s scientific views or past policies.
Democrats criticised the committee’s decision, describing the process as politically driven and warning that using contempt proceedings against witnesses who invoke constitutional rights could affect future congressional investigations.
The contempt referral has now been sent for further review, but legal experts say the next steps remain uncertain. Any potential prosecution would involve questions about congressional authority, constitutional protections and whether the refusal to testify meets the legal standard for contempt.
The dispute is part of a broader political battle in the United States over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including debates about transparency, government decision-making and public trust in health institutions.
