Fauci to face contempt vote after refusing to answer Covid questions in Congress
Former White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci faces a potential contempt of Congress vote after invoking his Fifth Amendment rights during a hearing regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. Senator Rand Paul and other Republicans are pushing for the measure, though it faces significant hurdles to pass the Senate.
Why it matters
This reflects the ongoing political polarization in the US regarding the origins of the pandemic and the accountability of public health officials.
Figure caption, Watch: Senator Rand Paul says Fauci "could be prosecuted" after declining to answer questions
A US Senate committee chairman has warned ex-White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci could be held contempt of Congress after he refused to answer questions at a combative hearing into his handling of the Covid pandemic.
The former top infectious disease expert invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination during testimony more than 100 times.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky said afterwards: "I think there is a very real chance that he could be prosecuted for that."
Paul has long accused Fauci of trying to cover up the origin of the coronavirus, and of funding research at a lab in Wuhan in China, where some theories say the pandemic began. Fauci has denied wrongdoing.
It remains unclear whether he could face any charges.
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