politics
US Senate panel votes to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress over Covid hearing
Anthony Fauci’s lawyer condemned the vote from the Republican-controlled committee as a ‘crude political stunt’
TL;DR
- A US Senate committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress.
- Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment repeatedly during a hearing on the COVID-19 pandemic response.
- Fauci's lawyer called the vote a 'shameful' and 'crude political stunt'.
- The committee chair, Senator Rand Paul, stated Fauci defied an order to answer questions.
- Democrats criticized the process as a one-sided investigation that could harm future congressional inquiries.
- The Fifth Amendment protects individuals from being compelled to incriminate themselves.
- Senator Paul argued Fauci could not plead the Fifth due to a presidential pardon.
- Fauci accused Paul of an 'unhinged obsession' and a desire to 'embarrass and intimidate' him.
- A contempt referral typically requires full Senate approval, which may be difficult to achieve.
- The US Department of Health and Human Services provided Fauci's phone to a Senate subcommittee.