Senate panel holds Fauci in contempt over refusal to answer COVID-19 questions

Per Axios, a Senate committee voted Thursday to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt for declining to answer questions about COVID-19's origins. The Homeland Security Committee voted eight to five after Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right last week. Republican Senator Rand Paul plans to refer the case to the Justice Department for prosecution—except President Biden preemptively pardoned Fauci before leaving office. Paul argued the pardon removed any legal reason to stay silent. Democrats countered that forcing testimony under these circumstances puts Fauci in jeopardy by generating statements that could fuel new investigations, while also discouraging future government witnesses from cooperating with oversight.

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