Fauci invoked Fifth 111 times at Senate COVID hearing
What's next: Senate Republicans are weighing contempt and a criminal referral after the former health official refused to answer questions.
Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on the U.S. COVID-19 response, declining to answer questions after appearing under subpoena. Fox News reported he invoked the protection 111 times as Republicans pressed him about diary entries released by Sen. Rand Paul and his actions during the pandemic. Fauci said in an opening statement that Paul was trying to elicit statements that could be used to put him “behind bars.” Paul warned the committee would consider what action to take over Fauci’s refusal to testify, including possible contempt and a criminal referral.