Senate committee to vote on holding fauci in contempt over refusal to answer questions despite sweeping pardon

Following a Wednesday hearing in the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in which former NIAID head Anthony Fauci pleaded the Fifth 111 times, committee head Rand Paul said members would be voting next week on whether to hold the former official in contempt of Congress.

When asked by reporters if Fauci would be held in contempt, Paul said, “That's the vote that will happen in committee next week. It will be in contempt of Congress. We believe that with his liability—his immunity from criminal liability, that he didn't need to hide behind the Fifth Amendment, and that maybe the Fifth Amendment doesn't attach when you have a pardon in place, and that'll be a legal question. But the question on contempt will be voted on.”

“And then there's a question of whether or not the Department of Justice will take that up. You know, I've recommended before for his criminal prosecution, and neither the Biden DOJ nor the Trump DOJ have taken it up. All I can do is recommend prosecution. I can't initiate prosecution,” Paul added. Per Politico, Paul has scheduled that vote to take place on August 5. 

This comes after Fauci repeatedly pleaded the Fifth in the Wednesday morning hearing, telling Senators in his opening statement, “Although it pains me to do so, because of the respect I have for the legislative branch of government and my decades-long record of cooperating with Congress, 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 refused to answer even basic questions, such as whether there was a folder sitting in front of him at the desk at which he was sat, what day of the week it was, what color tie he was wearing, and what color carpet was in the room. 

During the hearing, Senator Ron Johnson asked Fauci whether he would comply with a letter requesting that he appear for a transcribed interview. Fauci pleaded the Fifth, with Johnson saying, “expect a subpoena.”