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Anthony Fauci declines second Senate appearance after contempt vote
Dr. Anthony Fauci has declined a request to appear for a private transcribed interview before a Senate subcommittee led by Senator Ron Johnson. This refusal follows a recent vote by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to hold the former NIAID director in contempt of Congress.
The contempt vote, which occurred on August 6 along party lines, was triggered by Fauci invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times during a July 29 hearing regarding the federal government’s COVID-19 response and the origins of the virus. Senator Rand Paul, the committee chairman, has referred the matter directly to the Justice Department for potential investigation, a move that bypasses a full Senate vote and has drawn scrutiny from legal experts.
Fauci’s attorneys, David Schertler and Danny Onorato, argued that compelling further testimony would constitute 'impermissible harassment or degradation' for political purposes. They maintained that Fauci has previously testified or briefed congressional committees more than 200 times and has acted transparently. Meanwhile, Senator Johnson stated that the subcommittee will continue to seek records and explore legal options to obtain answers regarding the pandemic response and vaccine safety.
Entities
Anthony Fauci · Department of Justice · National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · Rand Paul · Ron Johnson · Senate Homeland Security Committee · Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 13 SOURCES] The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress on August 6. wltreport.com · newsfactsnetwork.com · europeanbusinessmagazine.com · internewscast.com · abcnews.com · +8 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Senator Rand Paul referred the contempt resolution directly to the Justice Department, bypassing a full Senate vote. newsfactsnetwork.com · europeanbusinessmagazine.com · internewscast.com · abcnews.com · mymotherlode.com · +7 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a July 29 Senate hearing. wltreport.com · newsfactsnetwork.com · europeanbusinessmagazine.com · internewscast.com · abcnews.com · +8 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Dr. Anthony Fauci declined a request to appear for a private transcribed interview before a Senate subcommittee. wltreport.com · newsfactsnetwork.com · internewscast.com · abcnews.com · mymotherlode.com · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Attorneys for Dr. Anthony Fauci stated that compelling his appearance before a Senate subcommittee would 'impermissibly harass or degrade' him for political purposes. wltreport.com · newsfactsnetwork.com · internewscast.com · abcnews.com · mymotherlode.com · +7 more