Updated 1w+ ago · Crime
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
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81 sources · 203 articles · 46% Right coverage
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.
Center coverage, 21 sources: The center focuses on the unresolved constitutional question of whether a pardon strips a witness of Fifth Amendment protections, framing the case as a precedent with broad implications.
Associated Press1w+Senate panel to vote on holding Fauci in contempt for refusing to answer questionsCTV News1w+U.S. Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt for refusing to answer COVID questionsThe Hill1w+Fauci made ‘huge mistake’ in pleading the Fifth: Chuck ToddYahoo News1w+Senate committee led by Rand Paul votes to hold Fauci in contempt for refusing to answer questions at COVID hearingRealClearPolitics1w+Contempt Vote Against Fauci Was a StuntUSA Today1w+How Fauci went from 'icon' during AIDS crisis to COVID lightning rodReuters1w+Comisión del Senado de EEUU vota a favor de declarar al doctor Fauci en desacato al CongresoThe National Desk1w+VOTE: Should Anthony Fauci be prosecuted by the Justice Department?Forbes1w+Fauci Contempt Of Congress Resolution Passes Along Party LinesFortune1w+Fauci contempt vote opens door to DOJ prosecution — and a precedent for witnesses to refuse to even show up in the future | FortunePBS NewsHour1w+Why was Fauci held in contempt for pleading the 5th, and what happens next?Roll Call1w+Photos of the week | August 1-6, 2026TMZ1w+Sen. Rand Paul Says Dr. Fauci Is Not Fall Guy For COVID, Americans Deserve AnswersAxios1w+Senate panel holds Fauci in contempt over refusal to answer COVID-19 questionsBBC News1w+US Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contemptChicago Tribune1w+Senate panel to vote on holding Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt for refusing to answer questionsJerusalem Post1w+Senate panel obtains Fauci’s COVID-era iPhone records as contempt vote approaches - reportNewsweek1w+Fauci faces contempt vote: what his phone records revealNPR1w+Senate committee set to vote on whether to hold Fauci in contempt of CongressScripps News1w+Senate committee votes to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt of CongressThe Week1w+GOP Senate panel votes to refer Fauci for contempt
Left coverage, 23 sources: The left frames the contempt push as a procedurally irregular effort by Paul to punish Fauci, noting the pardon and questioning whether the committee referral carries real legal weight.
The Boston Globe1w+Senate panel votes to hold Fauci in contempt of CongressThe Independent1w+Trump says D Fauci should be prosecuted. What happens now?CNN1w+Trump did many of the things Republicans criticize Fauci forMediaite1w+CNN’s Elie Honig Tells Stephen A. Smith That Dr. Fauci Case Will ‘Crash and Burn’ if DOJ ProsecutesPolitical Wire1w+GOP Faults Fauci for What Trump Also DidThe New York Times1w+Fauci Is Far From the First Person to Plead the Fifth Before CongressMSNBC1w+Trump weighs in on Fauci, says ‘maybe he should’ face prosecutionRaw Story1w+Fauci's wife deploys vulgar salute in defiance after GOP moves against 'sullen' doctorLos Angeles Times1w+Senate committee votes to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of CongressNBC News1w+Senators to vote on holding Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for pleading the Fifth during tense hearingABC News1w+Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt of CongressAl Jazeera1w+Senate panel votes to hold former official Fauci in contempt of CongressBoston.com1w+Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt for refusing to answer COVID questionsCBS News1w+Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt of CongressDaily Kos1w+Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt for refusing to answer COVID questionsHuffPost1w+Senate Committee Votes To Hold Anthony Fauci In Contempt Of CongressSalon1w+Fauci is an easy scapegoat for pandemic revisionistsSlate1w+The Real Reason Rand Paul Put a DOJ Target on Anthony Fauci’s BackTalking Points Memo1w+The Ruthless Persecution of Anthony Fauci Is the Story of Our TimeThe Guardian1w+Senate panel votes to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress over Covid hearingThe New Republic1w+Rand Paul Successfully Gets Revenge on Anthony FauciTime1w+A Senate Panel Has Voted to Hold Fauci in Contempt of Congress. What Happens Next?Truthout1w+Senate Committee Finds Fauci in Contempt of Congress for Using Fifth Amendment
Right coverage, 37 sources: The right treats the contempt vote and state-level subpoenas as legitimate accountability for Fauci's pandemic conduct, highlighting new evidence from diaries and a transferred cellphone.
Washington Examiner1w+Fauci held in contempt by Rand Paul’s committeeThe Daily Wire1w+Fauci And The Danger Of Following The Sun Gods Of ScienceBreitbart News1w+Ron Johnson: 'Not a Good Look' for Dems to Bury Their Head in the Sand over FauciJust the News1w+Three GOP attorneys general issue subpoena for Anthony Fauci for probe into awardsFox News1w+Fauci's contempt of Congress is challengeable, but not his contempt for the publicRedState1w+Pure Gold: Rand Paul's Perfect Reaction to Fauci's Wife's Rude Gesture After Contempt VoteBizPac Review1w+INSIDER: Too little, too late for Dr. FauciCitizen Free Press1w+Three state AG issue criminal subpoenas for Anthony Fauci.New York Post1w+Fauci's fed-up wife flips the bird as ex-top doc miserably takes out trash hours after contempt voteTownhall1w+Sen. Rand Paul Had the Perfect Tweet for Fauci’s Wife Giving the Middle Finger Post-Contempt VoteNewsmax1w+Louisiana, West Virginia Back Florida AG's Fauci SubpoenaOne America News1w+Fauci subpoenaed in multi-state AG probe over COVID-19 guidance, self-enrichment claimsThe Blaze1w+Anthony Fauci's bad week just got A WHOLE LOT worseThe Center Square1w+Democrats accuse Republicans of partisanship in Fauci contempt voteThe Daily Caller1w+More Trouble For Fauci Ahead Even After Congress Is Done With HimThe Daily Signal1w+Democrats Refused to Look-Into Fauci, Now the DOJ CanThe Epoch Times1w+Senate Obtains Phone Fauci Used While in GovernmentThe Right Scoop1w+BREAKING VIDEO – Josh Hawley CONFIRMS they have Fauci’s phone…The Western Journal1w+After 5th Amendment Debacle and Contempt of Congress Vote, Fauci's Wife Gives Reporters the Finger in Perfect Metaphorical MomentDaily Mail1w+Dr Fauci held in contempt of Congress and could be PROSECUTED after refusing to answer any COVID questions under Fifth AmendmentFrontPage Magazine1w+Journalists Want To Bury Their Fawning Friendship With FauciNTD1w+Senate Obtains Phone Fauci Used While in GovernmentPJ Media1w+Did a Democrat Senator Accidentally Admit He Knows That Fauci Broke the Law?RSBNetwork1w+Senate committee votes to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt of CongressThe Post Millennial1w+BREAKING: Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt of CongressThe Washington Times1w+Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contemptTwitchy1w+Rand Paul Catches Sen. Blumenthal at Contempt Hearing ADMITTING Dems Know Fauci Lied RepeatedlyWND1w+Republicans now have Fauci’s cellphone: What will they find? * WorldNetDaily * by Emily Kopp, Daily Caller News FoundationAmerican Greatness1w+Senate Homeland Security Panel Votes to Hold Anthony Fauci in Contempt, Sen. Paul to Refer Charges to DOJ › American GreatnessChristian Post1w+Senate committee votes to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of CongressHot Air1w+WSJ: Fauci May Have a Bigger Problem Than Contempt Charge TodayLegal Insurrection1w+Senate Committee Holds Fauci in Contempt of CongressLifeSiteNews1w+Fauci held in contempt of Congress: 'Accountability is not vengeance' - LifeSiteNewsBusters1w+POLL: What Was the Worst Media Quote of the Week?The Federalist1w+Senate Committee Holds Fauci In ContemptThe National Pulse1w+Senate Committee Votes to Hold Fauci in Contempt of Congress.ZeroHedge1w+Senate Panel Holds Fauci In Contempt For Refusing To Answer Questions
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?
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