An attorney for former National Institutes of Health Director Anthony Fauci was removed from a Senate hearing chamber Wednesday after repeatedly disrupting proceedings, prompting Sen. Rand Paul to order his ejection.
Fauci appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and invoked the Fifth Amendment, declining to answer questions posed by Paul. The Kentucky Republican identified the attorney as David Schertler, one of several lawyers present to advise Fauci.
Paul repeatedly warned Schertler to stop speaking without being recognized, stating, "You are not recognized. If you are unruly, you will be removed from the proceeding."
Despite the warnings, Schertler continued to interject, leading Paul to admonish him further. "You will respect these proceedings. You were told not to sit at the table. You insist on sitting at the table. And we told you would not be recognized. You are not invited here for testimony, sir. You are being disruptive," Paul stated. He added that if Schertler were in a courtroom, a judge would impose a more severe penalty.
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., the ranking member, interjected, expressing a desire to hear from the attorney. However, Paul countered that the hearing was for Fauci's testimony, not a forum for his lawyers to engage. "His lawyers can give him advice. He's got a half dozen here. They're all allowed to talk to him, alright? But the attorneys are not recognized," Paul explained. He noted that Schertler had been instructed not to sit at the table but had not complied, and was now disrupting the proceedings.
Following continued disruptions, Paul instructed security to remove Schertler from the room. As the attorney was escorted out, Paul remarked that Fauci would still have the counsel of his other attorneys present. Some individuals in the gallery applauded as the attorney was removed.
Earlier reports indicated that while President Biden had issued a preemptive pardon to Fauci, Senate Republicans maintained that such a pardon would not shield him from consequences if he were to lie to Congress.