Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former top US public health official during the COVID-19 pandemic, declined to answer questions during a hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on July 29, 2026. Over nearly three hours, Fauci repeated a single 24-word statement, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times.
Committee chairman Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) accused Fauci of trying to dodge accountability for allegedly misleading Congress in past testimony about the origins of COVID-19. Republicans argue that Biden's pardon of Fauci should strip him of Fifth Amendment protection, since he can no longer be prosecuted for past actions. Legal experts note it isn't that simple: the pardon doesn't cover testimony given after January 2025, so any false statements made at this hearing could still be prosecuted — and state attorneys general in Florida, West Virginia, and Louisiana have already said they're issuing their own subpoenas.
The Senate committee subsequently voted to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress, with all eight Republicans in favor and seven Democrats against. Paul said he would refer the resolution to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution. Fauci's attorney, David Schertler — who was removed by Capitol Police during the hearing after trying to speak without recognition — called the contempt resolution "meritless and politically motivated."
