Fauci Held in Contempt of Congress for Pleading Fifth.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee votes Thursday on holding Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. The vote follows a hearing last week at which Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right more than 100 times.

• 100-plus Fifth Amendment invocations: Fauci spoke only to deliver his opening statement.
• Biden's pardon covered Fauci's conduct from 2014 through January 2025.
• 3 Republican attorneys general — Florida, West Virginia, Louisiana — issued a joint investigative subpoena.
• Senators Ron Johnson and Rand Paul obtained millions of additional Fauci-related government documents.

Why it matters: The core legal question is whether Biden's pardon removed Fauci's basis for invoking the Fifth Amendment. Paul argues the pardon eliminated the risk of self-incrimination, obligating Fauci to answer. Fauci argued he still faced a credible threat of prosecution.

• The outcome could affect how future pardoned witnesses — including potential Trump administration aides — respond to congressional subpoenas.
• Florida AG James Uthmeier said the state probe targets whether Fauci personally profited from pandemic guidance affecting businesses and consumers.

How 81 sources split on this story

Where they split: The central dispute is whether Biden's pardon voided Fauci's Fifth Amendment protection — and whether the contempt referral is legitimate legal accountability or politically motivated pressure.

What’s next: Paul plans to send a legal brief to the Justice Department arguing Fauci had no grounds to invoke the Fifth Amendment.

• A full Senate floor vote remains possible but would need 60 votes; Paul does not expect Democratic support.
• Will the Justice Department act on a committee-level contempt referral without a full Senate vote?
• Do state-level investigations survive the scope of Biden's federal pardon?
• What does Fauci's transferred pandemic-era cellphone data contain, and how will the committee use it?