On Thursday morning, August 6th, 2026, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee voted 8 to 7 to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. The vote was strictly along party lines, with all Republicans voting "aye" and all Democrats voting "nay."

During a July 29 Senate hearing, Fauci invoked his rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution more than 100 times in response to questions posed by Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul. Fauci stated, “On advice of counsel I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.”

Sen. Paul emphasized that while votes to hold witnesses in contempt should be rare, it is Congress’s constitutional duty to oversee the executive branch, particularly when a witness has been granted a sweeping pardon. He stated, “Accountability is what stands between the American people and a repeat of the mistakes and the very real consequences of the past.”

Democrats on the committee acknowledged the need for an investigation into past mistakes but argued that the focus had been too heavily placed on one individual. In response, Paul noted that no Democrat on the committee had utilized the internal software to review the investigation’s documents, suggesting a reluctance to confront the full scope of the inquiry.

The committee’s decision marks a significant development in congressional oversight efforts related to Fauci’s tenure and actions.

Sources