Key facts
- Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a Senate hearing on Covid origins.
- Senator Rand Paul released over 1,000 pages of Fauci's diary entries, suggesting private beliefs differed from public statements.
- Senator Paul stated there is a real chance Fauci could be prosecuted for invoking the Fifth Amendment.
- The Senate committee plans to vote next week on holding Fauci in criminal contempt of Congress.
- President Biden issued a pre-emptive pardon to Fauci for actions between 2014-25, but potential charges could arise for later actions.
- Florida's top prosecutor announced an investigation into Fauci.
Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a contentious Senate hearing into his handling of the Covid pandemic, refusing to answer questions about the virus's origins. Senator Rand Paul, who has long accused Fauci of misleading the public, released over 1,000 pages of Fauci's diary entries, suggesting private beliefs differed from public statements.
Paul stated there is a "very real chance" Fauci could be prosecuted for invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs plans to vote next week on holding Fauci in criminal contempt of Congress, though passage would require significant bipartisan support.
While President Joe Biden issued a pre-emptive pardon to Fauci covering actions between 2014-25, it remains unclear if this extends to his testimony before the committee or potential state-level charges. Florida's top prosecutor announced an investigation into Fauci.
Republicans questioned Fauci about shifting health guidance during the pandemic and his private beliefs on the virus's origins, with Paul suggesting diaries indicated Fauci privately believed it originated in a lab, contrary to his public statements. Democrats defended Fauci, with Senator Maggie Hassan calling the hearing an attempt to "entrap" him. President Donald Trump criticized Fauci on social media, reiterating his belief that the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory.