Fox News - Politics Rand Paul seeks civil contempt charges after Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment more than 70 times https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rand-paul-seeks-civil-contempt-charges-after-fauci-invokes-fifth-amendment-more-than-70-times 2026-07-29T16:15:31.102Z Sen.
Rand Paul, R-Ky., announced Wednesday that he will seek civil contempt charges against Fauci after he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 70 times during the blockbuster hearing.
What we know
Anthony Fauci, the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director, left Wednesday's congressional grilling without answering lawmakers' questions, but Republicans are escalating their fight to compel his testimony. Rand Paul, R-Ky., announced Wednesday that he will seek civil contempt charges against Dr.
Paul, the top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, subpoenaed Fauci to testify about the origins of COVID-19 after he declined to appear voluntarily. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, ordered security to remove one of Dr.
That's the way you want to be remembered, and that's what you're going to do." Despite these warnings, the man continued speaking, prompting Paul to ask security to "please remove him from the room." As Paul said this, several people in the gallery broke into applause.
The details
The Hill - News Paul has one of Fauci's attorneys removed from hearing room https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5996273-rand-paul-removes-fauci-attorney/ 2026-07-29T15:30:34.802Z Sen. The Hill - News Moreno drops f-bomb on Fauci, recalling COVID arrest at football game https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5996729-moreno-expletive-fauci-hearing-covid/ 2026-07-29T15:25:29.783Z Sen. Anthony Fauci during a Senate hearing Wednesday on the origins of and government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in which the former White House chief medical adviser invoked his Fifth Amendment right. FAUCI PRIVATELY TOOK CREDIT FOR COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS DESPITE PUBLIC DENIAL, NEWLY EXPOSED DIARY ENTRIES REVEAL The attorney for former NIH Director Anthony Fauci (R), David Schertler (L), is removed from the hearing room at the direction of committee chairman Sen.
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Fauci repeatedly pleaded the Fifth, arguing Paul had an "obsession" with seeking his arrest and released more than 1,000 pages of his "personal diary" over the weekend in an effort to embarrass and intimidate him, according to his opening statement. Rand Paul, R-Ky., ordered one of Fauci’s lawyers removed after he repeatedly refused to stop disrupting the proceedings. The hearing then took a turn when attorney David Schertler, whom Paul identified as one of Fauci’s "half a dozen" lawyers, attempted to speak without being recognized.
What to watch
If you are unruly, you will be removed from the proceeding," Paul warned. Fauci will still have the advice of the other half a dozen attorneys that he brought along today." Though former President Joe Biden issued an unconditional preemptive pardon to Fauci, Senate Republicans have emphasized that the pardon will not protect Fauci if he lies to Congress on Wednesday.
COMPILED FROM WIRE REPORTS: This article was assembled by the SHREDNEWZ evidence pipeline from corroborated reporting by Fox News - Politics, The Hill - News. All facts and quotations are attributed to the original outlets.
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The fact that Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right more than 70 times is reminiscent of the McCarthy era in 1953, where witnesses often pleaded the Fifth to avoid self-incrimination. It's striking that Rand Paul is...
Seventy-plus Fifth Amendment invocations in one hearing feels excessive—either the questions were overly broad or there’s something Fauci still isn’t comfortable answering under oath. If Paul’s side can narrow the sco...