On Thursday, August 6th, 2026, a Republican-controlled US Senate committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress following his repeated invocation of the Fifth Amendment during a hearing investigating his management of the Covid-19 pandemic response. Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), led the agency for 38 years before retiring in 2022.

During the tense hearing, Fauci declined to answer dozens of questions, citing constitutional protections. He stated, “Although it pains me to do so, because of the respect I have for the legislative branch of government and my decades-long record of cooperating with Congress, under the advice of my attorneys I will invoke my right under the fifth amendment of the constitution to refrain from answering your questions.”

The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, chaired by Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted to refer a potential criminal case against Fauci to the US Department of Justice. Fauci accused Paul of having an “unhinged obsession” with him and suggested Paul aimed to “embarrass and intimidate” him and put him “behind bars” due to his role in advocating widespread pandemic restrictions such as masking and social distancing.

Paul denied attempting to entrap Fauci, stating during the hearing, “He had no liability if he told the truth.” However, some critics, including a figure named Peters, described the investigation as “one-sided” and rushed, warning it could harm future investigative efforts.

The evening before the vote, the US Department of Health and Human Services provided a copy of Fauci’s phone to a Senate subcommittee. Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, subcommittee chair, expressed hope that the device would clarify many questions Fauci refused to answer.

While the committee’s contempt referral must be approved by the full Senate to proceed, such approval would likely require a 60-vote majority, necessitating Democratic support.

Sources