UNITED STATES — During Wednesday’s congressional hearing on his handling of the pandemic, former White House advisor Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions, including when asked to acknowledge a folder before him. The move drew sharp criticism from committee members who accused him of evading accountability for his role in America’s disastrous response to Covid-19.
Fauci’s demeanor on Wednesday contrasted starkly with his public persona during the pandemic. He once served as the face of science, confidently urging nationwide mask mandates, lockdowns, and experimental treatments. By comparison, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) appeared defeated and depressed under repeated questioning.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) argued that Fauci had no right to invoke the Fifth Amendment because he had been pardoned by the Biden administration. Hawley cited a blanket grant of clemency issued near the end of the presidency, which covers a decade without specific criminal charges. He stated that such a pardon negates Fauci’s Fifth Amendment protections.
Hawley also accused Fauci of amassing significant wealth during the pandemic while millions died. He claimed Fauci received over $1 million in cash awards through federal resources and his staff, using taxpayer money to solicit prizes. “You turned your staff into a full-time application machine,” Hawley said, noting that Fauci’s underlings pressured ethics agencies to secure these benefits.
During the hearing, David Schertler, Fauci’s lawyer, was expelled for repeatedly attempting to speak without recognition from Chairman Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Schertler reportedly disrupted proceedings by trying to regain momentum during his client’s testimony.
Senate Committee on Homeland Security Chair Paul also questioned whether Fauci funded gain-of-function research. Paul recently stated that transparency within Health and Human Services, the parent agency of NIAID under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has provided documentation suggesting beyond a reasonable doubt that Fauci supported such research and was aware early on that many credible scientists and top intelligence agencies believed the virus originated in a laboratory.
Additionally, Paul released hundreds of pages from Fauci’s diary during his pandemic leadership, which Fauci described as evidence of an “unhinged obsession.” Fauci has accused Paul of having an obsessive fixation on him, but Paul maintains that his actions are in service to Americans.
The hearing concluded with Hawley stating that Fauci’s actions revealed a shift from public health leadership to narcissism. “You became a narcissist and a megalomaniac,” Hawley said, claiming Fauci had lied to the American people and disgraced his profession.
The committee will vote next week on whether to hold Fauci in contempt for refusing to answer questions.
