A US Senate committee has voted to hold Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he declined to answer questions during a hearing investigating the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision followed a contentious appearance before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, refusing to respond to lawmakers’ questions about issues including the origins of COVID-19 and federal pandemic policies.
Republican Senator Rand Paul, who led the push for the contempt resolution, argued that Fauci’s refusal to testify was unacceptable and claimed the former US infectious disease adviser should have answered questions from Congress. The committee’s Republican members supported the resolution, while Democrats opposed it, describing the move as politically motivated.
Fauci’s legal team defended his decision, saying he was exercising a constitutional protection because of concerns that his answers could potentially expose him to legal risks. Fauci has rejected accusations of wrongdoing and said the investigation was being used as a political attack against him.
The controversy is part of a broader political battle over the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including disputes over public health decisions, research funding and government transparency.
The contempt referral has now moved into a legal and political process, with questions remaining over whether further action will be taken by federal authorities and how the dispute will affect ongoing investigations into the pandemic response.
