On Thursday morning, August 6, 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."

The committee is chaired by Republican Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who emphasized the importance of accountability to prevent a repeat of past mistakes. "Accountability is what stands between the American people and a repeat of the mistakes and the very real consequences of the past," Paul said during the hearing.

Paul noted 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.

During a July 29 Senate hearing, Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment rights more than 100 times in response to questions posed by Paul, ranging from serious to absurd. Fauci stated, "On advice of counsel I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution," repeatedly.

Democrats on the committee acknowledged the need for an investigation into past mistakes but criticized the inquiry for focusing too heavily on one individual. In response, Paul countered that no Democrat on the committee had utilized the internal software to review the investigation's documents, suggesting a lack of willingness to confront the full scope of the inquiry.

The committee's vote followed an 8-5 vote within Rand Paul's Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, underscoring the partisan divide over the issue.

Sources