Fauci refuses to answer questions in 'unhinged' COVID hearing

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former face of the U.S. pandemic response, repeatedly refused to answer questions during a contentious Republican-led Senate hearing on Wednesday, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The hearing, chaired by Senator Rand Paul, focused on the origins of COVID-19 and Fauci's handling of the crisis.

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Dr Fauci accused Senator Paul of an "unhinged" campaign to see him imprisoned and refused to answer more than 100 questions during the hearing on Wednesday, local time.

Fauci, 85, who retired in 2022 after nearly four decades leading the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, accused Senator Paul of conducting an "unhinged" campaign against him. Despite Paul's assertion that a presidential pardon would not shield Fauci from answering senators' questions and that refusal could lead to consequences, Fauci remained silent on more than 100 inquiries. Senator Paul indicated the committee would vote to hold Fauci in contempt.

President Joe Biden had preemptively pardoned Dr. Fauci on January 19, 2025, to protect him from what the White House described as "unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions" related to his COVID-19 role. However, the pardon does not cover conduct occurring after its issuance. Republicans argued that federal law and a 19th-century Supreme Court decision allow Congress to compel testimony by granting immunity from prosecution for statements made during hearings.

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Dr Fauci was not allowed to plead the Fifth Amendment right to refrain from answering senators' questions, that a pardon from former US president Joe Biden would not protect him, and that there would be consequences for refusing to answer, adding the committee had scheduled a vote next week to hold Dr Fauci in contempt.

Fauci's refusal to answer even basic questions, such as the day of the week or the color of his tie, drew sharp criticism from Republican senators. They contend that federal law requires him to testify, especially given the pardon's scope. The situation underscores the deep political divisions and ongoing efforts by conservatives to assign blame for the pandemic's toll, which exceeded 1.1 million deaths in the U.S., with Fauci becoming a primary target of that anger.

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Mr Trump took to social media to say his ideas "were CRAZY".