On Thursday, August 6, 2026, a Republican-controlled US Senate committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during a tense hearing concerning his management of the Covid-19 pandemic response.

Fauci, who led NIAID for 38 years before retiring in 2022, declined to provide clarifying answers to multiple questions, citing constitutional protections. His repeated refusal to testify fully prompted the Senate panel's vote.

The hearing focused on Fauci's stewardship during the Covid-19 crisis, with Republican senators pressing for detailed explanations. Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment dozens of times was seen as a move to parry what was described as a hostile inquisition.

Sources