Rand Paul's Committee Moves to Hold Fauci in Contempt Over Fifth Amendment Invocation
Rand Paul's committee voted to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked his Fifth Amendment right during a hearing on July 29, 2026. Fauci, who has been pardoned for past federal offenses, refused to answer questions, citing his constitutional rights. The Justice Department is reviewing the committee's request to charge Fauci, which could result in up to a year in jail. The controversy centers on whether Fauci's pardon negates his Fifth Amendment rights, with Senator Josh Hawley arguing that the pardon removes his privilege against self-incrimination. However, the pardon only covers past offenses, not future testimony, leaving Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment a point of legal contention. 
