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Rand Paul to Hold Anthony Fauci in Contempt of Congress Over Fifth Amendment Invocations

Rand Paul will lead a Republican-led committee vote this week to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions during a recent hearing on the COVID-19 pandemic. During the proceedings, Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment rights more than 100 times, a move that Republicans argue is unnecessary because he received a blanket pardon from the administration of President Joe Biden. Republican senators argue that the pardon should have lifted the threat of criminal prosecution, making the Fauci's use of the constitutional protection technically improper. However, some legal experts suggest that the administration's recent questioning of the pardon's validity, along with potential state-level prosecutions, provides Anthony Fauci with a valid basis to remain silent. The committee intends to fast-track the referral to the Justice Department, potentially bypassing a full Senate vote. This move aims to establish a precedent for how pardoned witnesses are compelled to testify before Congress, especially as the administration of President Trump is expected to issue similar pardons to many of its own officials.

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