A copy of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s pandemic-era iPhone, used during his tenure at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has been obtained by the Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., chairs the subcommittee.
Whether the subcommittee has full access to the phone's contents remains unclear, according to a spokesperson for Sen. Johnson. The acquisition of the phone comes as the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee prepares to vote on holding Fauci in contempt of Congress. This development follows the HHS’s release of over 1,000 pages from Fauci's personal diary to the panel just days before a key hearing.
The hearing, scheduled for Thursday morning, stems from a subpoena issued by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who is investigating Fauci's alleged role in funding gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China, the origin of the COVID-19 virus. Paul has called for accountability regarding pandemic response policies and official records.
During a previous hearing, Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times, citing concerns about self-incrimination and what he described as a panel designed to ensnare him. "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," Fauci stated at the time.
Republicans on the panel questioned Fauci on his alleged involvement in a lab leak theory, while Democrats defended his decision to invoke his constitutional rights. Following the testimony, Paul indicated that Fauci would face consequences for his refusal to answer questions and raised questions about the potential implications of a presidential pardon.
