Dr. Anthony Fauci Repeatedly Pleads The Fifth During Explosive Senate Hearing
Former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination Wednesday during a high-profile Senate hearing, refusing to answer questions from Sen. Rand Paul as lawmakers investigated his role in the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fauci opened the hearing by accusing Sen. Paul of conducting what he described as a years-long campaign to prosecute and publicly discredit him. He argued that the hearing was designed to force him into making statements that could later be used against him and said, on the advice of his attorneys, he would invoke the Fifth Amendment rather than answer the committee’s questions. He would go on to repeat the same response dozens of times throughout the hearing.
Sen. Paul questioned why Fauci would invoke the Fifth despite receiving a full pardon from former President Joe Biden in January 2025 covering potential COVID-related offenses committed before that date. Paul argued the pardon removed any legitimate basis for refusing to testify and warned that the Senate committee would consider what actions could be taken in response to Fauci’s refusal to answer questions after being directed to do so.
The hearing focused heavily on allegations surrounding federal funding of gain-of-function research, the origins of COVID-19, and accusations that government records related to the pandemic were concealed or destroyed. Paul also questioned Fauci about emails in which he allegedly instructed officials to delete communications, as well as testimony concerning the handling of federal records during the pandemic.
Tensions escalated further when one of Fauci’s attorneys, David Schertler, repeatedly interrupted the proceedings while objecting to Paul’s comments. After warning him to stop, Paul ordered Capitol Police to escort Schertler from the hearing room, stating that he was disrupting the proceedings and had no authority to participate in the questioning. The dramatic removal drew applause from some in attendance, while Schertler later condemned the decision as evidence that the hearing was politically biased.
The confrontation marked the latest chapter in the years-long dispute between Fauci and Paul over the federal government’s pandemic response and the origins of COVID-19. With Fauci refusing to answer virtually every substantive question, the Senate committee indicated it will now consider its next steps as its investigation into the pandemic and related government actions continues.