Fauci invokes Fifth at Senate hearing as Rand Paul eyes contempt vote

Washington,UPDATED: Jul 30, 2026 01:42 IST

Dr Anthony Fauci on Wednesday invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer questions from senators at a Republican-led committee hearing on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Rand Paul, who subpoenaed the now-retired infectious disease expert to appear, later said the panel would vote next week on whether to hold Fauci in contempt for refusing to testify.

The hearing reflected the long-running dispute between Paul and Fauci, with Paul repeating his accusations that Fauci had lied about the pandemic and Fauci previously calling those claims "preposterous". Democrats on the committee largely defended Fauci's decision not to engage, while Republicans criticised him. Republicans hold an 8-7 majority on the panel. President Donald Trump also said he had followed the proceedings and used the occasion to praise his administration's COVID-19 response.

Paul said Fauci's refusal to answer questions should lead to a vote on contempt next week. He argued that Biden's presidential pardon means Fauci no longer has a Fifth Amendment privilege, though he added that it is a "legal question that the courts may have to decide". Paul did not say whether he would seek a criminal contempt referral to federal prosecutors, a civil contempt referral to a federal court, or an internal Senate action. During the hearing, several Republicans pressed Fauci over his refusal to answer, though Republican Senator Mark Lankford of Oklahoma told him multiple times that "you have the right" to invoke the Fifth.

Asked later about Fauci's appearance, Trump told reporters, "I watched the whole thing today." He then pointed to his first-term COVID-19 efforts, including Operation Warp Speed, the administration's initiative to develop and distribute a COVID vaccine, and said, "COVID was a disaster, but Fauci did not help." The hearing ended with Paul saying senators would decide next week whether Fauci's refusal to testify should lead to contempt proceedings.

With PTI Inputs

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