WASHINGTON: A US Senate panel approved the contempt vote against Fauci 8-5 on Thursday after he refused to answer pandemic-related questions. Republicans supported the resolution, while Democrats opposed it.
According to CBS News, the Washington meeting began with a vote, followed by Fauci’s July 29 testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
He invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times, Republican Chairman Rand Paul said. The protection allows witnesses to avoid answers that could expose them to criminal charges.
Paul said Biden’s pardon removed Fauci’s federal risk and made his silence invalid. Fauci’s lawyer said the former official had solid legal grounds for using the protection.
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Fauci said Paul sought testimony supporting the senator’s public calls for his prosecution. Former President Joe Biden pardoned Fauci on January 19, 2025.
The pardon covers possible federal offences tied to his official work from 2014 through that date. It does not cover later conduct or state crimes.
A contempt resolution normally goes to the full Senate. Most Senate measures require 60 votes to advance, but Republicans hold 53 seats.
Paul said he would instead send the referral directly to the Justice Department. Ranking Democrat Gary Peters called that route unprecedented and questioned its legal basis.
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The Justice Department would decide whether to seek an indictment. The committee vote itself neither charged nor convicted Fauci.
