Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institutes of Health, may face a contempt of Congress vote after he refused to answer questions about his activities during the coronavirus pandemic. Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, but Senator Rand Paul argued that a pardon from President Biden removed any criminal danger and that Fauci had waived his right by giving a statement before invoking it.

Background

Fauci had been called to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which is chaired by Senator Paul. Fauci had previously testified to Congress multiple times, but he said he believed that Wednesday’s hearing was an attempt to entrap him into saying something that could lead to legal trouble.

The committee is scheduled to vote on the contempt charge next week. The issue is whether Fauci can refuse to testify given the pardon for past behavior. The pardon, granted in January 2025, is unconditional and covers any offenses that Fauci may have committed or taken part in during his service in the government.

Precedent

The case is similar to that of Lois Lerner, a former IRS senior official who invoked her Fifth Amendment right during a House hearing in 2014. The House eventually voted to hold her in contempt, but the Justice Department refused to prosecute the case.

Democrats have used contempt of Congress against Trump figures in the past, including Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro, who were convicted and served prison time for refusing to testify.

Original reporting: WMAL (Washington DC) — read the source article.