WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. Anthony Fauci, a prominent figure in the COVID-19 response, invoked the Fifth Amendment repeatedly during a Senate committee hearing led by Republicans. His refusal to answer questions aimed to protect him from potential accusations of lying under oath.
Despite receiving a pardon from President Joe Biden in 2025, some Republicans have suggested Fauci might still face charges for perjury from this hearing. Fauci was subpoenaed to testify by Senator Rand Paul, who has long been critical of Fauci’s handling of the pandemic.
During the hearing, Fauci was asked more than 100 questions by Republican senators but declined to respond, deepening the partisan divide over the pandemic’s origins and management. In his opening statement, Fauci accused Paul of harassing him, driven by a fixation on his prosecution.
“The only conclusion I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something, anything, that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words, quote, behind bars, unquote,” Fauci said.
Senator Paul announced the committee’s intention to vote on whether Fauci should be held in contempt for his silence, leaving open the possibility of pursuing criminal charges.
Accusations from Republicans centered on claims that Fauci lied in previous testimony about the coronavirus’s origins, charges he denies. Democrats view the hearings as ploys to entrap Fauci, commending his leadership during the pandemic.
More than 150 disease experts have defended Fauci, noting the absence of credible evidence supporting the accusations. Fauci has also denied any wrongdoing concerning research funding directed to China.
A GOP-led subcommittee had previously dismissed any evidence linking Fauci to misconduct. Fauci maintains openness to both theories regarding the virus’s origins, emphasizing the natural transmission from animals at a Wuhan market as the more likely scenario.
Despite concerns, Fauci insists research funded by the NIH in Wuhan did not contribute to the pandemic virus. Trump’s administration has set new rules to regulate high-risk research practices after suspending gain-of-function research.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department received support from notable institutions but independently curated the article.