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

The vote followed Fauci's July 29th 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 votes to hold witnesses in contempt should be rare, Congress has a constitutional duty to oversee the executive branch, particularly 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 necessity of investigating past mistakes but argued that the inquiry had disproportionately focused 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 engagement with the evidence.

The committee's vote reflects ongoing partisan divisions over the investigation and oversight responsibilities related to Fauci's actions.

Sources