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COVID Hearing: US Senate Panel Votes to Hold Fauci in Contempt; Phone Records Under Review

COVID Hearing: US Senate Panel Votes To Hold Fauci In Contempt; Phone Records Under Review

A US Senate committee has voted to hold former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress.

<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/dr-anthony-faucis-personal-journals-reignites-debate-on-covid-19-origin-says-he-overshadowed-president-trump-article-155203216" data-type="tilCustomLink">Fauci</a>, who led the United States' scientific and medical response to the COVID-19 pandemic, appeared before the committee last week, where he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times while being questioned by Republican lawmakers. He also accused committee chairman Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) of attempting to wrongly entrap him.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/lab-leak-more-likely-origin-of-covid-19-says-former-biden-adviser-dr-ashish-jha-article-155255474" data-type="tilCustomLink">Lab Leak 'More Likely' Origin of COVID-19, Says Former Biden Adviser Dr. Ashish Jha</a>

The committee voted along party lines to refer Fauci to the US Justice Department, which will decide whether to investigate or pursue contempt charges over his refusal to answer questions after being directed to do so under a congressional subpoena, The Washington Post reported.

The referral does not automatically result in prosecution. It is now up to the Justice Department to determine whether to pursue the case.

Ahead of the vote, Senator Rand Paul said the issue before lawmakers was Fauci's refusal to answer questions—not his views or his handling of the pandemic.

"The chair directed Anthony Fauci to answer. He refused. That is what we are voting on today—not his opinions, not his policies, not anything he said from the podium six years ago," Paul said.

"We are voting on whether a witness who has received the benefit of a federal pardon can be ordered by this committee to answer questions and then defy that order without consequence," he added.

Fauci, 85, said the decision not to answer questions "pained" him but that he was following the advice of his legal counsel. The Fifth Amendment protects individuals from being compelled to incriminate themselves under most circumstances.

<h2>Senate Committee Obtains Fauci's Phone Records</h2>

Read More: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/severe-covid-19-can-reactivate-dormant-viruses-may-fuel-long-covid-symptoms-study-article-155319875" data-type="tilCustomLink">Severe COVID-19 Can Reactivate Dormant Viruses, May Fuel Long COVID Symptoms: Study</a>

As the contempt proceedings moved forward, the Senate committee said it had obtained a backup copy of Fauci's government-issued iPhone, which he used during his tenure as NIAID director, including while leading the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said the phone records could provide additional information.

"Hopefully, this device will address many of the questions he refused to answer at last week's hearing."

<h2>Long-Running Debate Over COVID Origins</h2>

The hearing is the latest development in the long-running political debate over the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Fauci's legal team noted that he had appeared before congressional committees at least 20 times since the COVID-19 pandemic began and had continued testifying even after retiring in mid-2024. They argued there had been no major COVID-19 developments since then that warranted further testimony.

COVID-19 Cases Surging Again In India: 3 Deaths Reported In Andhra Pradesh | Who Is Most At Risk?

For years, Fauci has been accused of attempting to conceal the virus's origins and of supporting research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, where some believe the pandemic may have begun through a laboratory leak.

In June, former US Director of National Intelligence <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/natural-origin-or-lab-leak-gabbard-reignites-covid-origins-debate-claims-fauci-funded-wuhan-lab-research-article-154683911" data-type="tilCustomLink">Tulsi Gabbard</a> released previously undisclosed communications and documents alleging that Fauci funded research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology that contributed to the pandemic.

Most scientists, however, continue to believe that transmission from an infected animal remains the more likely origin of the virus.

Recently, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, in a media interview, said that he believes the COVID-19 pandemic was "more likely" caused by an accidental lab leak than by natural transmission.

"My view on COVID origins isn't new — I've held it since my time at the White House," Jha, who also served as an adviser to former President Joe Biden, wrote on social media platform X.

"Here's the truth: no one in America knows for sure. Anyone telling you they do is selling you something. Based on strong circumstantial evidence I've seen, I think a lab leak is much more likely," he wrote while sharing a clip of his CNN interview.

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A US Senate committee has voted to hold former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress.Fauci, who led the United States' scientific and medical response to the COVID-19 pandemic, appeared before the committee last week, where he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times while being questioned by Republican lawmakers. He also accused committee chairman Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) of attempting to wrongly entrap him.What Does the Vote Mean?Also read: Lab Leak 'More Likely' Origin of COVID-19, Says Former Biden Adviser Dr. Ashish JhaThe committee voted along party lines to refer Fauci to the US Justice Department, which will decide whether to investigate or pursue contempt charges over his refusal to answer questions after being directed to do so under a congressional subpoena, The Washington Post reported.The referral does not automatically result in prosecution. It is now up to the Justice Department to determine whether to pursue the case.Ahead of the vote, Senator Rand Paul said the issue before lawmakers was Fauci's refusal to answer questions—not his views or his handling of the pandemic."The chair directed Anthony Fauci to answer. He refused. That is what we are voting on today—not his opinions, not his policies, not anything he said from the podium six years ago," Paul said."We are voting on whether a witness who has received the benefit of a federal pardon can be ordered by this committee to answer questions and then defy that order without consequence," he added.Fauci, 85, said the decision not to answer questions "pained" him but that he was following the advice of his legal counsel. The Fifth Amendment protects individuals from being compelled to incriminate themselves under most circumstances.Senate Committee Obtains Fauci's Phone RecordsRead More: Severe COVID-19 Can Reactivate Dormant Viruses, May Fuel Long COVID Symptoms: StudyAs the contempt proceedings moved forward, the Senate committee said it had obtained a backup copy of Fauci's government-issued iPhone, which he used during his tenure as NIAID director, including while leading the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported.Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said the phone records could provide additional information."Hopefully, this device will address many of the questions he refused to answer at last week's hearing."Long-Running Debate Over COVID OriginsThe hearing is the latest development in the long-running political debate over the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci's legal team noted that he had appeared before congressional committees at least 20 times since the COVID-19 pandemic began and had continued testifying even after retiring in mid-2024. They argued there had been no major COVID-19 developments since then that warranted further testimony.      For years, Fauci has been accused of attempting to conceal the virus's origins and of supporting research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, where some believe the pandemic may have begun through a laboratory leak.In June, former US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released previously undisclosed communications and documents alleging that Fauci funded research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology that contributed to the pandemic.Most scientists, however, continue to believe that transmission from an infected animal remains the more likely origin of the virus.Recently, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, in a media interview, said that he believes the COVID-19 pandemic was "more likely" caused by an accidental lab leak than by natural transmission."My view on COVID origins isn't new — I've held it since my time at the White House," Jha, who also served as an adviser to former President Joe Biden, wrote on social media platform X."Here's the truth: no one in America knows for sure. Anyone telling you they do is selling you something. Based on strong circumstantial evidence I've seen, I think a lab leak is much more likely," he wrote while sharing a clip of his CNN interview.

covid hearing: us senate panel votes to hold fauci in contempt; phone records under review

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