Fauci Declines to Testify in Senate Hearing | Concord News

Dr. Fauci stunned the Senate by invoking his Fifth Amendment, calling Senator Rand Paul’s relentless questioning an “unhinged obsession” and claiming it aimed to incriminate him — a first in his long history of congressional testimony. Paul pushed back, saying even a presidential pardon wouldn’t protect Fauci from contempt charges over false statements, and demanded accountability for his refusal to comply. A lawyer for Fauci was forcibly removed after Paul refused to acknowledge him, escalating tensions. While Paul zeroed in on the lab leak theory and Fauci’s pandemic origins stance, Democratic chair Gary Peters urged the committee to focus on future pandemic readiness instead. With contempt votes looming next week, the hearing has ignited a deeper debate over public health authority, congressional oversight, and the enduring fallout from the pandemic’s early days. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/882698e691f11127