Republican-led Senate committee votes to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt after pleading the Fifth

• A Senate committee led by Chairman Sen. Rand Paul voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress and refer him to the Justice Department for potential prosecution.
• The decision stems from Fauci's refusal to answer questions at a hearing last week regarding his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination over 100 times during his appearance before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
• Paul argued that Fauci's Fifth Amendment protection was invalid due to a pardon from President Joe Biden, which he claimed removed the threat of prosecution.
• Democrats and Fauci maintained he had a well-founded fear of self-incrimination, citing Republican calls for his prosecution.