Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination at a Senate hearing Wednesday, refusing to answer questions about COVID-19 origins and the government’s pandemic response while accusing Chairman Rand Paul of orchestrating a prosecution trap.

Constitutional Right Invoked Over Perjury Fears

The former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director stunned the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by declining to testify. Fauci told lawmakers he feared Republicans would use his testimony to pursue perjury charges, citing Paul’s repeated public statements calling for his imprisonment. The decision marked a dramatic reversal for a government official who previously testified before Congress over 200 times during his nearly 40-year career.

Fauci’s opening statement directly confronted the Kentucky Republican senator, pointing to Paul’s “obvious obsession with calling for my prosecution, his repeated slanderous comments about me” and his decision to publicly release Fauci’s personal journal. The doctor concluded that the hearing’s sole purpose was to get him to say something that could justify Paul’s public pledges to see him “behind bars.”

Paul Threatens Legal Action Over Silence

Senator Paul proceeded with his questioning despite Fauci’s refusal to respond. The former health official repeated the same statement to each inquiry: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.” Paul warned of consequences, telling Fauci the committee would consider appropriate action against him for failing to testify after being directed to do so.

The hearing grew more contentious when Fauci’s attorney attempted to address the committee. Paul repeatedly cut him off, refusing to recognize him to speak. Moments later, the chairman ordered security to remove the lawyer from the room. Outside the hearing, the attorney defended his client’s constitutional right to invoke Fifth Amendment protections.

Democrats Condemn Proceedings As Political Theater

Ranking Democrat Gary Peters of Michigan criticized Republicans for what he called damaging political theater. Peters argued the hearing unfairly scapegoated one person for decisions made by hundreds of officials across both Trump and Biden administrations. He warned the proceedings would deter scientific experts from public service. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut refused to question Fauci during his allotted time, calling the hearing a “show trial” designed as a “perjury trap for criminal prosecution going forward.”