Covid testimony: Panel holds Fauci in contempt

Washington: A US Senate committee on Thursday voted to hold Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress and refer him to the Justice Department for potential prosecution after he refused to answer questions about his handling of the Covid pandemic.

The party-line vote came a week after Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Committee chairman Republican Senator Rand Paul argued the protection did not apply because former President Joe Biden had pardoned Fauci, removing the threat of federal prosecution.

Fauci and Democrats said he still had reason to fear criminal charges given Republican calls for his prosecution. Biden’s pardon covered acts from 2014 until January 2025 but does not shield Fauci from state prosecutions.

The referral will go to the US attorney’s office in Washington, which will decide whether to investigate or seek prosecution for contempt.

—AP