Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., intends to schedule a committee vote next week to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. The move follows Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment 111 times during a recent hearing.
Paul, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, stated his intention to pursue the contempt charge after Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The committee could vote to advance the contempt resolution, but for it to pass the full Senate, it would require a simple majority and overcome a potential filibuster, necessitating 60 votes.
Should the Senate overcome a filibuster to hold Fauci in contempt, a separate resolution would be needed to make a criminal referral to the Department of Justice. This referral would also face a filibuster, requiring another 60 votes for approval.
Contempt of Congress citations are more commonly pursued in the House of Representatives than in the Senate. The Senate's last successful contempt action occurred in 1971.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testified before a House subcommittee on June 3, 2024. The hearing was part of a Republican-led probe into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and Fauci's role during it. During the testimony, Fauci's attorney was removed from the hearing room after an exchange with committee members.