Anthony Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment 111 times in Senate hearing

Anthony Fauci Fifth Amendment Senate hearing Rand Paul contempt vote

On July 29 2026 the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Rand Paul, heard testimony from Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times and declined to answer questions on NIH funding of Wuhan Institute of Virology research, gain‑of‑function studies, lockdown policies and vaccine guidance.

Republican senators repeatedly called for a vote on contempt of Congress against Fauci. Prior to the hearing, Rand Paul released over 1,100 pages of Fauci’s pandemic‑era diary, which suggested private doubts about the virus’s fatality rate and origins. State attorneys general in Florida, Louisiana and Alabama announced investigations into Fauci’s conduct. Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis linked the U.S. death toll to the alleged suppression of early‑treatment options such as ivermectin.

Entities: Anthony Fauci · COVID‑19 pandemic · Cynthia Lummis · Giuseppe Conte · Italian Covid inquiry commission · Josh Hawley · National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · Rand Paul · Ron Johnson · Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee · U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee · U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 2 SOURCES] The Italian Covid inquiry commission requires members to resign to be heard as witnesses. (Commission rules)
[○ 1 SOURCE] U.S. Republicans considered voting for contempt of Congress against Fauci. (Republican members)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The US Senate hearing was broadcast live on major TV networks. (Broadcast information)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The hearing included discussion of the lab‑origin theory and vaccine policy. (Hearing content)
[● 6 SOURCES] Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing. (multiple)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Media coverage of Fauci's hearing was limited in Norway and Italy. (Media analysis)
[● 2 SOURCES] Giuseppe Conte has not resigned from his parliamentary seat, preventing his testimony before the Italian Covid inquiry commission. (Conte's status)
[● 3 SOURCES] The hearing was led by Senator Rand Paul. (Committee chair)
[● 5 SOURCES] Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during the July 29 2026 Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing. (supporting_article_ids)
[● 2 SOURCES] The hearing included discussion of NIH funding of Wuhan Institute of Virology research and gain‑of‑function work. (multiple)
[● 6 SOURCES] The hearing was chaired by Senator Rand Paul. (multiple articles)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Media coverage of the hearing was limited in Norway and Italy. (article)