US Senate Panel to Vote on Holding Fauci in Contempt
A Senate panel got a copy of Anthony Fauci's government cellphone. Senator Ron Johnson leads the panel doing this check.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee will vote Thursday. They will decide if Fauci should face contempt of Congress charges.
Fauci is a former top medical advisor to the government. Last week Fauci declined to answer senators' questions.
He used his Fifth Amendment right over 100 times during a Covid-19 hearing. The Fifth Amendment lets people avoid answering questions that could hurt them legally.
Senator Rand Paul leads the effort to hold Fauci in contempt. Paul argues Fauci could not use the Fifth Amendment.
He says former President Joe Biden gave Fauci a pardon before any charges. Before the hearing the committee released over 1,100 pages of Fauci's diary.
The diary covers 2019 to 2022. Fauci pointed to the diary as one reason for his silence.
If the contempt vote passes the committee has a plan. They will send it straight to the Justice Department. This would skip a vote by the full Senate.
Key Terms 4
- contempt of Congress A charge for refusing to cooperate with a congressional investigation.
- Fifth Amendment A US constitutional right to avoid self-incriminating testimony.
- pre-emptive pardon Forgiveness for possible crimes given before any charges are filed.
- Justice Department The US government agency that enforces federal law.