Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right Wednesday morning by not answering questions on the origins of COVID-19 and how the government handled the pandemic.
The decision was a surprise at the start of the hearing, which was expected to be contentious given Fauci’s Chairman Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) relationship.
In his opening statement to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Fauci explained why he took that route by stating Paul’s “obvious obsession with calling for my prosecution, his repeated slanderous comments about me” and his decision to publicly release the doctor’s personal journal.
“The only conclusion I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something — anything — that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words — quote — ‘behind bars,’” Fauci said.
“Any reasonable person who has followed his unhinged obsession with me would readily come to the same conclusion,” he continued. “Therefore, although it pains me to do so because of the respect I have for the legislative branch of government and my decades-long record of cooperating with Congress, under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the 5th Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions.”
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Fauci also noted his appearances before House and Senate committees in the past. He said during the nearly 40 years he served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, he testified before or briefed congressional committees “well over 200 times.”
He said he “proved that I believe in and respect the value of legitimate congressional oversight.”
Paul still asked Fauci a questions during the hearing.
Fauci answered each question with, “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the 5th Amendment to the Constitution.”
Before the hearing, Paul suggested the possibility of Fauci facing prosecution for perjury if he lied to Congress. Paul has alleged Fauci has lied to Congress; Fauci has denied this.
Former President Joe Biden issued a preemptive pardon for Fauci near the end of his presidency.
Fauci responded to the pardon by saying he had been “the subject of politically motivated threats of investigation and prosecution.” The doctor said he “committed no crime.”
Fauci’s lawyer, David Schertler, said in a statement the circumstances surrounding Fauci’s appearance “regrettably made his continued cooperation impossible.”
“Dr. Fauci devoted his lengthy career to saving millions of lives globally through scientific discovery and sound public health policy,” Schertler said in the statement. “The accusations that Chairman Paul continues to propagate are false and disgraceful, and we will examine all options to hold him accountable.”
Paul told reporters ahead of the hearing he thinks Americans “would be very disappointed” if Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment privileges.
"Fauci Fauci what you gonna do? Inject him with the Wuhan flu"