Senate Panel Votes to Advance Contempt Proceedings Against Dr. Anthony Fauci

WASHINGTON – The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted Thursday to recommend holding Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. The committee advanced the measure after Fauci declined to comply with a subpoena from the panel's investigations subcommittee.

Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican and ranking member of the investigations subcommittee, initiated the contempt proceedings. Paul's office previously stated that Fauci refused to appear for a deposition before the subcommittee to answer questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The committee's vote follows an investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and the U.S. government's response. Senator Paul had requested Fauci's testimony regarding these matters. The committee previously obtained communications from Fauci's unredacted emails and phone records.

Dr. Fauci, who previously served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and chief medical advisor to the president, has stated he retired from government service in December 2022. He has publicly discussed his cooperation with previous congressional inquiries.

The contempt resolution now moves to the full Senate for consideration. If the Senate approves the contempt resolution, it would then be referred to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for potential prosecution.