Senate Panel Votes on Fauci Contempt After Fifth Amendment Refusal

Senate Republicans are set to advance a contempt resolution against Dr. Anthony Fauci on Thursday, escalating a years-long campaign of political targeting against the former top infectious disease official. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led by Sen. Rand Paul, will vote on referring Fauci to federal prosecutors after he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights more than 100 times during last week's hearing on COVID-19 origins and response.

Fauci, 85, cited legal risks despite a broad pardon from President Joe Biden covering his federal actions through early 2025. He accused Paul of an "unhinged obsession" and warned the session was designed to trap him into perjury. Paul has long pursued Fauci, releasing private diary entries that mocked Donald Trump and pushing claims the doctor misled Congress on pandemic policies. The committee also received Fauci's government cellphone from the Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., adding to millions of pages of records already obtained.

Democrats and scientists view the move as harassment meant to deter public health experts from service. A group of 155 researchers issued an open letter decrying the "vilification" of American scientists. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, the retiring Democrat whose seat is now contested, warned it would chill future involvement in government. Three Republican state attorneys general have opened parallel probes, extending the pressure beyond Washington.

The contempt push bypasses a full Senate vote for now, with Paul planning a direct referral to the Justice Department if the committee approves. Critics note such resolutions rarely result in charges, especially after a presidential pardon, and see the effort as performative amid broader Republican attacks on pandemic-era officials.

In a separate development, progressive physician Abdul El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination for Michigan's open Senate seat, defeating Rep. Haley Stevens. El-Sayed, backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, built support among younger voters and now faces Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in November. The race is viewed as critical for Democrats seeking to flip the chamber, though El-Sayed trails in early fundraising against outside spending.

These developments underscore deepening partisan rifts, with Republicans prioritizing symbolic confrontations over substantive oversight while Democrats focus on competitive battlegrounds.