Fauci Invokes Fifth Amendment in Senate COVID Hearing
Wertynews.com – Watch Live: Dr. Anthony Fauci invokes his Fifth Amendment right during a contentious Senate hearing on July 29, 2026. The physician cited Senator Rand Paul’s “unhinged obsession with me” as the primary reason for declining to answer questions. Fauci noted that Paul has repeatedly sought to place him “behind bars” through various public campaigns.
During his opening remarks, Fauci provided a detailed explanation of his decision. He pointed to Paul’s persistent calls for prosecution, what he described as slanderous remarks, and the recent public release of his unredacted personal diary. According to Fauci, these actions were specifically designed to intimidate and embarrass him.
“Given Senator Paul’s obvious obsession with calling for my prosecution, his repeated slanderous comments about me, and recently, his publicly releasing my unredacted personal diary, aimed at embarrassing and intimidating me, 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.
The physician emphasized that any reasonable observer would arrive at the same conclusion. Despite his respect for the legislative branch and decades of cooperation with Congress, Fauci said he would invoke his constitutional right to remain silent. He stressed that this decision came after consulting with his legal team.
“Any reasonable person who has followed his unhinged obsession with me would readily come to the same conclusion. 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 Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions. Thank you.”
Paul Defends Investigation Transparency
When questioned throughout the hearing, Fauci consistently replied that he was declining to answer based on Fifth Amendment rights and counsel’s advice. His responses remained brief and focused on his legal position.
“On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer, based on my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.”
Senator Paul countered accusations that the committee had restricted minority access to records. He described the inquiry as the most transparent investigation in congressional history, noting that all information had been posted online. According to Paul, Democrats never requested the access code needed to view the materials.
“The accusation that the committee has denied access to the minority’s records is categorically false,” Paul told Peters. “This is the most transparent investigation in the history of Congress.”
“They haven’t been on the website because they have not cared about the investigation,” Paul said.
Peters Accuses Majority of Political Agenda
Sen. Gary Peters, the ranking Democrat on the committee, delivered a sharp critique of Paul during his opening statement. Peters argued that the hearing represented a politically motivated effort to validate conclusions already reached years earlier.
“This hearing appears to be a culmination of months of bias and selected efforts by the majority, under the guise of a committee investigation, to basically legitimize a predetermined conclusion that was reached years ago,” Peters said.
Peters highlighted how Paul had previously demanded Fauci’s dismissal and arrest in 2021. The senator noted that Paul had accused Fauci of orchestrating coverups and conspiracies, prominently featured him in fundraising correspondence, and placed him on his book’s cover. Additionally, Paul had called for the cancellation of Fauci’s security detail despite credible death threats against the physician and his family.
“In 2021, the chairman has called for today’s witness to be fired, to be arrested,” Peters said. “Accused him of leading coverups and conspiracies. He has even featured the witness prominently in fundraising emails and on the cover of his book. He has also called for the cancellation of the witness’ security detail —- despite the fact that witness and his family have received numerous credible death threats.”
Peters concluded that rather than addressing current national security challenges, the hearing looked backward at previously examined questions. He characterized the proceedings as re-litigating history instead of strengthening future disaster preparedness.
“Instead of focusing on the national security challenges that we are facing today, this hearing is focused on looking backward at questions that have already been answered,” Peters said.
