Senate committee holds Fauci in contempt of Congress

The Senate Homeland Security Committee voted Thursday to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress over his refusal to answer questions at last week's hearing, with Republicans arguing he improperly invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.

The GOP-led panel approved the resolution 8-5, with every Democrat opposed and two more voting no by proxy. Chairman Rand Paul said holding a witness in contempt should be rare but that the power exists for exactly this situation, framing the question as whether someone shielded by a sweeping federal pardon can be ordered to answer and then defy that order without consequence. Fauci declined 111 times during the July 29 hearing, which he attended under subpoena as part of the committee's investigation into the origins of COVID-19.

Paul plans to skip the usual Senate floor vote and refer the matter straight to the Justice Department. The resolution requires Vice President JD Vance, as president of the Senate, to certify the report to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Whether Fauci faces charges would be up to Trump's Justice Department.

Ahead of the hearing, Paul released more than 1,000 pages of Fauci's journal entries. Fauci pointed to that release in his opening statement, accusing Paul of an obsession with prosecuting him.