Fauci Testifies Before Senate, Invokes Fifth Amendment Over 100 Times
Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared under congressional subpoena before a Senate committee investigating the COVID-19 pandemic response and invoked his Fifth Amendment rights more than 100 times. Coverage from NPR and PBS focused on the hearing's substance, expert reaction, and Fauci's legacy, while Fox News coverage emphasized conservative outrage, resurfaced viral moments from pandemic-era lockdowns, and mockery of Democratic figures associated with Fauci.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the White House pandemic response under Presidents Trump and Biden and is now retired, appeared before a Senate committee under congressional subpoena to answer questions about the COVID-19 pandemic. During the hearing, Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times (reported as 111 times by Fox News), refusing to answer lawmakers' questions. The hearing was described as contentious, with lawmakers questioning Fauci extensively about pandemic-era policies. NPR interviewed infectious disease expert Dr. Céline Gounder about the questioning, while PBS NewsHour spoke with Katherine Wu, author of "The Unmaking of Anthony Fauci" for The Atlantic, about the hearing and Fauci's broader legacy. Following the hearing, conservative commentators and social media users resurfaced videos from COVID-19 lockdown enforcement, including mask mandate incidents and arrests, framing them in light of Fauci's refusal to testify. Separately, a 2021 social media post by Texas state Rep. James Talarico celebrating a Fauci action figure resurfaced online and drew mockery from conservative commentators in connection with the hearing.
SOURCE COMPARISON
How the coverage differs
WATCH: Rand Paul says there's one thing Americans have never heard from Fauci
Sen. Rand Paul demands an apology from Anthony Fauci over gain-of-function research funding in China ahead of their Wednesday committee hearing.
Read original report ↗'Pleading the Fifth' invokes a constitutional amendment that has a long history in US society
‘Pleading the Fifth’ invokes a constitutional amendment that has a long history in US society
Read original report ↗U.S. and Iran resume attacks. And, Fauci to face Senate questions on COVID pandemic
The U.S. and Iran have resumed fighting after Iran attacked U.S. forces in the Middle East yesterday. And, a Senate committee will question Anthony Fauci about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read original report ↗Anthony Fauci Invokes Fifth Amendment at Heated Senate Hearing
At a contentious hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci refused to answer repeated questions about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, invoking the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times. Now, Republicans are threatening to hold him in contempt of Congress. NBC’s Monica Alba reports for TODAY.
Read original report ↗Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment in showdown with Republican lawmakers
Fauci invoked his right not to respond to questions in his opening statement, citing Senator Rand Paul's "unhinged obsession" with trying to put him "behind bars".
Read original report ↗Acting CDC director says Fauci "abused the place of power" during pandemic
The acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday accused Dr. Anthony Fauci of an abuse of power during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read original report ↗WATCH: Fauci invokes 5th Amendment in GOP-led hearing about COVID-19 origins
Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer dozens of questions from senators in a Republican-led committee hearing about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read original report ↗