Rand Paul to Hold Committee Vote on Whether to Hold Anthony Fauci in Contempt of Congress
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) will lead a committee vote on Thursday morning to determine if Anthony Fauci should be held in contempt of Congress for repeatedly invoking his Fifth Amendment rights during a recent Senate hearing. The former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases refused to answer questions regarding the federal government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, federal research funding, and the origins of the virus. While Anthony Fauci argued that the hearing was an attempt to build a criminal case against him, Rand Paul characterized the refusal as an obstruction of a congressional investigation. Republicans contend that the federal pardon granted by President Biden does not exempt Anthony Fauci from answering questions. If the committee approves the resolution, Rand Paul may refer the matter to the Justice Department for prosecution. The move has already prompted several states, including Louisiana, Florida, and Alabama, to announce state-level investigations into the conduct of Anthony Fauci during the pandemic.