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. All Republicans voted in favor, while all Democrats opposed the measure.

The vote followed Fauci's July 29 Senate testimony, during which he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights over 100 times in response to questions posed by Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul. Fauci repeatedly 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 contempt votes should be rare, Congress has a constitutional duty to oversee the executive branch, especially when a witness has received 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 investigating past mistakes but argued that the investigation had focused excessively on one individual. 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 facts.

The committee's vote reflects ongoing partisan divisions over the investigation and Fauci's role, with Republicans pushing for accountability and Democrats cautioning against a narrow focus.

Sources