Anthony Fauci invokes Fifth over 100 times at Senate Covid hearing, faces contempt
Anthony Fauci appeared before a Republican-led Senate panel and declined to answer questions on the pandemic, invoking the Fifth Amendment. His refusal deepened the partisan clash with Rand Paul and set up a possible contempt vote next week.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the former top US infectious disease expert who led the country's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment on Wednesday, declining more than 100 times to answer questions from senators at a Republican-led committee hearing examining his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Senator Rand Paul later said the panel would vote next week on whether to hold Fauci in contempt for refusing to testify.
The hearing marked the latest chapter in the long-running feud between Paul and Fauci over the US government's response to the pandemic. Paul, who subpoenaed the now-retired health official to testify, has repeatedly accused Fauci of misleading lawmakers about Covid-19, allegations Fauci has previously dismissed as "preposterous".
Republicans on the committee criticised Fauci's decision to invoke his constitutional right against self-incrimination, while Democrats defended it. Republicans hold an 8-7 majority on the panel.
Paul argued that former President Joe Biden's pardon of Fauci meant he could no longer rely on the Fifth Amendment, though he acknowledged that the issue remained "a legal question that the courts may have to decide". He did not specify whether any contempt action would involve a criminal referral to federal prosecutors, a civil contempt proceeding in court or an internal Senate measure.
Several Republican senators pressed Fauci over his refusal to answer questions during the hearing. However, Republican Senator Mark Lankford of Oklahoma repeatedly reminded him that "you have the right" to invoke the Fifth Amendment.
President Donald Trump, who said he watched the proceedings, used the hearing to defend his administration's handling of the pandemic. Referring to Operation Warp Speed, the programme launched to accelerate the development and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, Trump said, "COVID was a disaster, but Fauci did not help."
The hearing concluded with Paul reiterating that the committee would vote next week on whether Fauci's repeated refusal to answer questions should lead to contempt proceedings.
(With PTI inputs)
Dr Anthony Fauci, the former top US infectious disease expert who led the country's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment on Wednesday, declining more than 100 times to answer questions from senators at a Republican-led committee hearing examining his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Senator Rand Paul later said the panel would vote next week on whether to hold Fauci in contempt for refusing to testify.
The hearing marked the latest chapter in the long-running feud between Paul and Fauci over the US government's response to the pandemic. Paul, who subpoenaed the now-retired health official to testify, has repeatedly accused Fauci of misleading lawmakers about Covid-19, allegations Fauci has previously dismissed as "preposterous".
Republicans on the committee criticised Fauci's decision to invoke his constitutional right against self-incrimination, while Democrats defended it. Republicans hold an 8-7 majority on the panel.
Paul argued that former President Joe Biden's pardon of Fauci meant he could no longer rely on the Fifth Amendment, though he acknowledged that the issue remained "a legal question that the courts may have to decide". He did not specify whether any contempt action would involve a criminal referral to federal prosecutors, a civil contempt proceeding in court or an internal Senate measure.
Several Republican senators pressed Fauci over his refusal to answer questions during the hearing. However, Republican Senator Mark Lankford of Oklahoma repeatedly reminded him that "you have the right" to invoke the Fifth Amendment.
President Donald Trump, who said he watched the proceedings, used the hearing to defend his administration's handling of the pandemic. Referring to Operation Warp Speed, the programme launched to accelerate the development and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, Trump said, "COVID was a disaster, but Fauci did not help."
The hearing concluded with Paul reiterating that the committee would vote next week on whether Fauci's repeated refusal to answer questions should lead to contempt proceedings.
(With PTI inputs)
Dr Anthony Fauci, the former top US infectious disease expert who led the country's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment on Wednesday, declining more than 100 times to answer questions from senators at a Republican-led committee hearing examining his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Senator Rand Paul later said the panel would vote next week on whether to hold Fauci in contempt for refusing to testify.
The hearing marked the latest chapter in the long-running feud between Paul and Fauci over the US government's response to the pandemic. Paul, who subpoenaed the now-retired health official to testify, has repeatedly accused Fauci of misleading lawmakers about Covid-19, allegations Fauci has previously dismissed as "preposterous".
Republicans on the committee criticised Fauci's decision to invoke his constitutional right against self-incrimination, while Democrats defended it. Republicans hold an 8-7 majority on the panel.
Paul argued that former President Joe Biden's pardon of Fauci meant he could no longer rely on the Fifth Amendment, though he acknowledged that the issue remained "a legal question that the courts may have to decide". He did not specify whether any contempt action would involve a criminal referral to federal prosecutors, a civil contempt proceeding in court or an internal Senate measure.
Several Republican senators pressed Fauci over his refusal to answer questions during the hearing. However, Republican Senator Mark Lankford of Oklahoma repeatedly reminded him that "you have the right" to invoke the Fifth Amendment.
President Donald Trump, who said he watched the proceedings, used the hearing to defend his administration's handling of the pandemic. Referring to Operation Warp Speed, the programme launched to accelerate the development and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, Trump said, "COVID was a disaster, but Fauci did not help."
The hearing concluded with Paul reiterating that the committee would vote next week on whether Fauci's repeated refusal to answer questions should lead to contempt proceedings.
(With PTI inputs)
