Senate Committee Votes to Hold Anthony Fauci in Contempt of Congress

A United States Senate committee voted on Thursday to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. The congressional panel approved the measure following his formal refusal to answer questions during an official oversight hearing. The panel has now officially referred Dr. Fauci to the United States Department of Justice for potential criminal prosecution.The escalation stems from a congressional hearing held last week regarding federal governance, oversight, and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the proceedings, Dr. Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment constitutional right against self-incrimination. Congressional records show Dr. Fauci invoked this constitutional protection more than 100 times in response to direct questions from lawmakers.The committee's vote marks a direct conflict between the legislative branch's oversight powers and a prominent former federal official. The criminal referral now moves to the Department of Justice, where federal prosecutors must determine whether to pursue formal charges against the former health official.