US Senate panel votes to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress over Covid hearing testimony

The US Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted on Thursday to charge former top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci with contempt of Congress. The decision came after Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a hearing about the Covid-19 pandemic, refusing to answer questions over 100 times.

The committee's move will now send the matter to the Justice Department, which will determine whether to investigate or prosecute Fauci. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee chairman Sen. Rand Paul argued that Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment was invalid, citing a presidential pardon granted to Fauci earlier in the year by President Joe Biden.

Fauci, however, believed that the pardon did not protect him from potential criminal charges arising from future testimony, and accused Paul of trying to elicit incriminating statements that could later be used against him. Democratic lawmakers supported Fauci's decision, emphasizing that the pardon did not shield him from prosecution for future statements and that he had a constitutional right to remain silent.

The Justice Department will now decide whether to pursue charges against Fauci for contempt of Congress.