Senate panel to vote on contempt citation for Dr. Fauci

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will vote next week on whether to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after the former top health official invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to answer questions during a hearing on July 29, 2026. Committee Chairman Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, announced the scheduled vote following the contentious session, which was convened to examine Fauci's conduct before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, stated in an opening remark that he would not answer questions due to what he described as Paul's "unhinged obsession" with prosecuting him. He cited the senator's previous public statements calling for him to be jailed. "Under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions," Fauci said. He maintained this position throughout the hearing, declining to answer over 70 inquiries, including basic questions about the day of the week and the color of his tie.