Former White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a contentious Senate hearing Wednesday, declining to answer more than 100 questions as lawmakers examined his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its origins.
Fauci appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where he invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times while facing questioning from Republican members.
“On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution,” Fauci repeatedly told lawmakers during the hearing.
During his opening statement, Fauci accused committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY.) of conducting the hearing in an effort to pursue criminal charges against him.
“The only conclusion I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something, anything, that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words, ‘behind bars,’” Fauci said.
Fauci also described Paul’s efforts as an “unhinged obsession.”
Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno (R) sharply criticized Fauci during his questioning, saying the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director had contributed to policies that harmed Americans during the pandemic.
Moreno said his decision to run for office was influenced by pandemic-era restrictions, citing an incident involving a mother who was arrested while watching a football game outdoors with her family.
“Who the f**k do you think you were for doing that? It was a total disgrace to this country,” Moreno said.
Before questioning Fauci, Moreno asked audience members who believed they had been negatively affected because of their skepticism toward COVID-19 policies to stand. Most of the public attendees rose behind Fauci.
The hearing followed the release of Fauci’s personal diaries by Sen. Paul, documents that Republicans have cited as part of their ongoing investigation into the federal pandemic response, per the Daily Mail.
Another tense moment unfolded when Fauci’s attorney, David Schertler, attempted to address the committee during the proceedings.
Paul interrupted him, stating, “I didn’t invite you here to testify,” before Capitol security escorted Schertler from the hearing room.
Later, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D) read a statement from Schertler defending Fauci and criticizing the hearing as politically motivated.
Paul responded by arguing that an attorney could not testify on behalf of a witness who was invoking the Fifth Amendment.
“He was not invited to testify, and he was out of order,” Paul said.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) also questioned Fauci, alleging that he used federal employees to assist with applications for awards recognizing his pandemic work.
Hawley argued that Fauci should not be able to invoke the Fifth Amendment because former President Joe Biden had previously granted him a pardon, citing Supreme Court precedent.
Fauci declined to answer Hawley’s questions, again invoking the Fifth Amendment.
Following the hearing, Paul told reporters he plans to hold a committee vote next week on whether to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress.
“That’s the vote that will happen in committee next week,” Paul said.
Paul argued that Fauci’s pardon may eliminate his ability to rely on Fifth Amendment protections, though he acknowledged that question would ultimately require legal resolution.
