Senate panel votes 8-5 to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress
What's next: Rand Paul sent the resolution to the Justice Department, bypassing a full Senate vote that likely lacked 60 votes.
Republicans on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 8-5 on Thursday to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked the Fifth Amendment at a hearing last week and refused to answer questions about the COVID-19 response and the virus's origins. Chairman Rand Paul said he would send the resolution directly to the Justice Department rather than wait for a full Senate vote, where it likely would have fallen short of 60 votes. A Justice Department spokesperson said the department had received the document and was reviewing it. Democrats on the committee objected, with Sen. Gary Peters warning the move could damage future investigations and erode long-recognized constitutional protections.