Anthony Fauci used his Fifth Amendment right during a hearing with the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday.He refused to answer questions from the committee chair, Senator Rand Paul.This action shows a big increase in the ongoing disagreement between them, as they’ve had conflicts for years during different congressional events.
Fauci clearly stated his position during the hearing.
He directly criticized what he called Paul’s strong focus on pushing for his prosecution.Fauci said the hearing wasn’t a real investigation but a way to get him to say something that would back up Paul’s public promises to have him jailed.
Fauci said, “The only conclusion I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something, anything that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words, ‘behind bars.’” He added that he felt he had no choice but to stay quiet.
He also said, “Any reasonable person who has followed his unhinged obsession with me would readily come to the same conclusion.” Although he wanted to keep his history of working with lawmakers, he said he would use his Fifth Amendment right to not answer any questions.
As the hearing went on, Paul asked questions about gain-of-function research.
He claimed that this research, which he accused Fauci of supporting, might have led to a lab leak that started the COVID-19 pandemic.Fauci didn’t answer any of the questions.Paul said the committee had denied the privilege claim and told Fauci to answer, but Fauci refused to comply.
Paul warned that the committee would take action if Fauci didn’t testify, saying it’s illegal to block a congressional investigation and that there would be consequences for not cooperating.
The situation turned worse when one of Fauci’s lawyers, David Schertler, tried to explain why Fauci used the Fifth Amendment.
Paul immediately tried to shut him down, saying he was being disruptive and threatening to remove him if he kept acting up.Paul said, “You’re not recognized.If you are unruly, you will be removed from the proceeding.” He also criticized the lawyer for sitting at the table even after being told not to, pointing out that he wasn’t invited to give testimony.
When committee ranking member Gary Peters tried to give Schertler a chance to speak, Paul refused.
The tension kept rising in a tough back-and-forth between the members and the lawyer.Eventually, the situation got so tense that Schertler was taken out of the room by a Capitol Police officer.
NOW – Anthony Fauci pleads the Fifth and declines to testify at a Senate hearing on COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/nvFh9axumD
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) July 29, 2026
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