Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday that the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs had scheduled a vote on whether to hold the former top health official and scientist in contempt after he refused to answer questions during a hearing.
WATCH: Fauci invokes 5th Amendment in GOP-led hearing about COVID-19 origins
“I really did want to hear from Dr. Fauci,” said Paul, who subpoenaed Fauci to appear. “I wanted to hear perhaps an apology, perhaps some semblance of being sorry for what happened or that judgment errors were made. We didn’t hear any of that.”
Through the hearing, Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer questions, citing Paul’s previous comments about wanting to incarcerate him.
“He was subpoenaed here to testify, refused to answer any questions even after being directed by the chair and being advised of the law requiring him to do so,” Paul said. “He has cited a privilege that is unsupported because of his blanket pardon and because he waived the privilege by testifying at the start.”
Before President Donald Trump took office for a second time, former President Joe Biden issued Fauci a preemptive pardon including on any actions taken while he was a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force or the White House COVID-19 Response Team.
“Limited to the period of your pardon, at any point between Jan. 1st, 2014, and Jan. 19, 2025, did you destroy any federal record or tell anyone else to?” Paul asked Fauci.
Fauci declined to answer, citing the Fifth Amendment.
“Because you refuse to answer, citing a privilege that is unsupported because of your pardon, and after being denied to do so, this committee has scheduled a vote next week on a resolution certifying your contempt,” Paul said.
