Dr. Anthony Fauci invokes 5th Amendment, declining to answer questions at Senate hearing
Former infectious-disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during a Senate hearing led by Senator Rand Paul. The hearing focused on the origins of COVID-19 and Fauci's previous testimony, amid ongoing tensions between him and Republican lawmakers.
Why it matters
The invocation of the Fifth Amendment marks a significant escalation in the long-standing political investigation into the handling of the pandemic.
Fauci said it pained him to do so, but that he was acting on the advice of his counsel. The move injects new drama into the lingering tensions between Fauci and Republican lawmakers over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and accusations he lied about the origins of COVID-19, which he denies.
Fauci was subpoenaed by the Senate's homeland security committee led by Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has long had a fraught relationship with the now-retired infectious-disease expert. Fauci, 85, was making at least his 20th appearance before a congressional committee since the emergence of the coronavirus.
In his opening statement, Fauci said Paul has an "obvious obsession with calling for my prosecution."
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in