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Senate Panel Votes to Hold Anthony Fauci in Contempt of Congress After He Invoked Fifth Amendment Rights Over 100 Times

A Senate panel voted along party lines to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after the former public health official invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times during a July 29 hearing. The hearing focused on the origins of COVID-19 and the government's pandemic response. Committee chairman Rand Paul argued that the preemptive pardon issued by President Joe Biden removed Fauci's risk of federal prosecution, thereby undermining his basis for refusing to answer questions. Fauci declined a request to voluntarily appear before a second Senate panel, with his attorney arguing that further compelling him to testify would be "impermissibly harass or degrade" him for political purposes. Meanwhile, Senator Ron Johnson is conducting a parallel investigation into the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. The administration announced the contempt referral to the Department of Justice for potential criminal prosecution. While some critics argue the hearing was a highly politicized effort to humiliate the official, others note that the pardon does not protect Fauci from state or local prosecution, leaving him vulnerable to future legal action.

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