- Dr. Anthony Fauci's phone has been turned over to the Senate panel by the Department of Health and Human Services ahead of a contempt vote.
- The Senate committee is set to vote on holding Fauci in contempt after he invoked the Fifth Amendment over 100 times during last week's hearing.
- Sen. Rand Paul indicated that if the panel votes to hold Fauci in contempt, he plans to refer the doctor directly to the Justice Department for potential prosecution.
- Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment during a Senate hearing, citing concerns over perjury and the potential for prosecution.
- Sen. Rand Paul has accused Fauci of obstructing Congress and has warned of repercussions for his refusal to testify.
- Fauci received a pardon from then-President Joe Biden, which Republicans claim gives him no legal standing to plead the Fifth.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is set to vote on whether to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked the Fifth Amendment over 100 times during a recent hearing.346
Sen. Ron Johnson confirmed the committee obtained Fauci's phone from the Department of Health and Human Services, which could provide answers to questions he declined to address.12
"Hopefully, this device will address many of the questions he refused to answer at last week’s hearing," Johnson stated.
Fauci, who retired in 2022 after leading the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for 38 years, pleaded the Fifth amid accusations from Sen. Rand Paul, who has been vocal about his desire to see Fauci prosecuted.57
Paul warned, "It’s against the law to obstruct an investigation of Congress. There will be repercussions for your refusal to testify."
Fauci's legal team argues that he is protected from prosecution due to a pardon from former President Joe Biden, which covers actions taken during his government service from 2014 to 2025.8
If the committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt, it could lead to a referral to the Justice Department for potential prosecution.
The situation highlights the ongoing political tensions surrounding Fauci's role in the Covid-19 pandemic response, as he faces scrutiny from Republican lawmakers who have long criticized his actions during the crisis.
“The phone, used during Fauci's tenure as NIAID director, was provided by HHS to Sen. Ron Johnson's subcommittee. Johnson hopes it will address questions Fauci refused to answer, while Fauci's pre-emptive pardon from Biden covers actions from 2014 to January 2025.”
