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WATCH: Sen. Paul says he will hold a contempt vote after Fauci invokes 5th Amendment
🇺🇸 United States /Elections & Politics

WATCH: Sen. Paul says he will hold a contempt vote after Fauci invokes 5th Amendment

From PBS NewsHour · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • Sen. Rand Paul announced a contempt vote against Dr. Anthony Fauci.
  • The vote follows Fauci's refusal to answer questions during a hearing, invoking the Fifth Amendment.
  • Paul stated Fauci waived his privilege due to a preemptive pardon and prior testimony.

Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., informed Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday that the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs will hold a vote on contempt charges. This action comes after Fauci refused to answer questions during a hearing, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

I really did want to hear from Dr. Fauci. I wanted to hear perhaps an apology, perhaps some semblance of being sorry for what happened or that judgment errors were made. We didn't hear any of that.

— Sen. Rand PaulPaul expressed his disappointment with Fauci's refusal to answer questions during the hearing.

Paul expressed his disappointment, stating, "I really did want to hear from Dr. Fauci." He had hoped for an apology or acknowledgment of judgment errors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Fauci declined to answer questions, citing Paul's previous remarks about wanting to see him incarcerated.

"He has cited a privilege that is unsupported because of his blanket pardon and because he waived the privilege by testifying at the start," Paul asserted. He questioned Fauci about destroying federal records or instructing others to do so between January 1, 2014, and January 19, 2025, referencing a preemptive pardon issued by former President Joe Biden. Fauci again invoked the Fifth Amendment.

He has cited a privilege that is unsupported because of his blanket pardon and because he waived the privilege by testifying at the start.

— Sen. Rand PaulPaul argued that Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment was invalid due to a prior pardon and his initial testimony.

Because Fauci refused to answer, citing an unsupported privilege, the committee has scheduled a vote for the following week on a resolution to certify his contempt. Paul concluded, "Because you refuse to answer, citing a privilege that is unsupported because of your pardon, and after being denied to do so, this committee has scheduled a vote next week on a resolution certifying your contempt."

Because you refuse to answer, citing a privilege that is unsupported because of your pardon, and after being denied to do so, this committee has scheduled a vote next week on a resolution certifying your contempt.

— Sen. Rand PaulPaul announced the committee's decision to hold a contempt vote following Fauci's continued refusal to answer questions.
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Originally published by PBS NewsHour. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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