A Senate committee voted 8-7 along party lines to advance a resolution recommending that the Justice Department consider holding former White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during testimony about the U.S. COVID-19 response. The measure, led by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rand Paul, now heads to the full Senate, where its prospects remain uncertain.
- The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the resolution in an 8-7 party-line vote.
- Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during last week's hearing.
- Paul argued Fauci's preemptive presidential pardon eliminated his basis for invoking Fifth Amendment protections.
- Fauci said he invoked the Fifth Amendment because he believed the hearing was intended to create grounds for a perjury charge rather than gather new information.
- If pursued, any contempt referral would ultimately be reviewed by the U.S. Department of Justice.
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Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.
