Texas – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said Dr. Anthony Fauci showed “contempt for Congress and for the American people” after a Senate committee voted to hold the former federal health official in contempt over his refusal to answer questions during a hearing about the COVID-19 pandemic response.
“Anthony Fauci demanded that Americans trust him. But when Congress demanded answers, he pleaded the Fifth over 100 times,” Cruz wrote. “I’m glad the committee voted to hold him in contempt. His actions showed contempt for Congress and for the American people.”
The Republican-led Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted to advance the contempt measure after Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during a July 29 hearing focused on questions surrounding his leadership during the pandemic, including federal health policies and research issues, AP News reported.
Republicans on the committee argued Fauci’s refusal to answer lawmakers’ questions prevented Congress from conducting oversight. The Senate Republicans’ official account said members of the committee voted to hold Fauci in contempt because he “refused to answer questions even after he received a preemptive pardon,” the New York Post reported.
“Republicans on @HSGAC_GOP just voted to hold Fauci in contempt,” the Senate GOP account wrote. “Fauci pled the 5th over 100 times and refused to answer questions even after he received a preemptive pardon. Americans deserve answers.”
During the hearing, Fauci declined to answer numerous questions by citing his constitutional protection against self-incrimination. Reports indicated he invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times while appearing before the committee.
The vote came after Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Rand Paul, argued Fauci should provide answers about his role in federal pandemic decisions. GOP members also questioned whether a previous presidential pardon affected Fauci’s ability to invoke the Fifth Amendment during congressional testimony.
Democrats pushed back against the contempt effort, arguing that Fauci had the constitutional right to invoke the Fifth Amendment and warning that punishing a witness for exercising that right could affect future congressional investigations. Fauci’s legal team also criticized the effort as politically motivated.
The contempt vote followed years of Republican scrutiny of Fauci’s role as the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and one of the most prominent public health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The committee’s action could lead to a referral to the Department of Justice for further consideration. The next steps remain dependent on how federal authorities respond to the contempt referral.
Cruz, who has previously criticized Fauci’s handling of pandemic-related issues, framed the vote as a demand for accountability and transparency from government officials.
The senator’s comments came as Republicans continued their broader efforts to investigate decisions made during the pandemic, while Democrats and Fauci’s supporters maintained that the proceedings were politically driven.
The controversy now moves beyond the committee vote, with the outcome depending on whether additional action is taken following the contempt referral.
