Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment at Senate COVID hearing
What's next: Rand Paul warned the panel could pursue consequences, arguing Fauci's refusal obstructed a congressional inquiry.
Anthony Fauci refused to answer questions at a Senate hearing on July 29, invoking the Fifth Amendment as he faced accusations from Republican Sen. Rand Paul over COVID-19 policy, Wuhan-related research and his past testimony to Congress. Fauci told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee he was acting on his lawyers' advice and then declined 15 questions from Paul, who chairs the panel. Paul argued a pardon issued by former President Joe Biden would not shield Fauci and warned of repercussions for refusing to testify. Fauci's lawyer, David Schertler, called Paul's campaign an "obsessive vendetta." Biden granted Fauci a pardon on Jan. 19, 2025, covering potential offenses since 2014 tied to COVID-19 or his leadership of NIAID.