Senate panel votes to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt

scienceAug 8, 202616325

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Republicans voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked his Fifth Amendment right during a July hearing about the pandemic’s origins. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky led the push; Paul has said he may send the contempt resolution directly to the Justice Department. Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire criticized the move. The contempt vote follows a fraught hearing in which Fauci declined to answer questions by pleading the Fifth, and it comes amid broader Republican investigations into Fauci’s role during the Covid-19 response. The vote increases the chance of a criminal referral to prosecutors and escalates partisan scrutiny of Fauci’s public-health record.

Trish Greenhalgh

@trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social

“Fauci has devoted more than 50 years to public service, leading NIAID and the US through the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the 2001 anthrax attacks, SARS, pandemic influenza, Ebola, Zika, & other infectious disease threats.” Thanks @gavinyamey.bsky.social for honouring this hero. www.bmj.com/content/394/...

1358h ago

louise33andathird.bsky.social2

The obsession with Ivermectin & hydroxychloroquine always puzzles me. They’re made by ‘big pharma’ too.

Jo 🕊️💚1

It beggars belief that this horrendous persecution of a scientist who has saved countless lives with his work is being legitimised in the US senate. Shame on all those who participated; I don’t believe they actually buy into these allegations. Absolute shame on them.

lila7.bsky.social1

Persuade him to move over here? I am sure there’d be a role for him in the NHS.

Liz Neeley

@lizneeley.bsky.social

Each Friday night, I write a briefing on what happened in US science & higher ed. 🧪 Aug 7 (Year 2, Wk 32) ⛔ Fauci & contempt vote, new NIH grant terminations 👀 Schwartz confirmed as CDC Director ✅ new mRNA vax approved, $20B in climate grants unfrozen & so much more buttondown.com/liminalcreat...

3611h ago

Physicians for a Healthy Democracy

@physiciandemocracy.medsky.social

www.bmj.com/content/394/... What was done to Dr. Fauci was disgraceful in itself. And, as Yamey and Titanji make clear, the consequences extend far beyond one man. Rigorous scientific scrutiny is essential. Political vilification masquerading as oversight is something very different.

252h ago

The Media and Democracy Project

@mediaanddemocracy.bsky.social

AGSulzberger’s NYT continues to democracy-wash the fascist MAGA movement. Front page view-from-nowhere framing w/perverse normalization of the assaults on Dr Fauci. “is rebuked” The story IS the MAGA movement is weaponizing the Government against Fauci & is at war w/reality +science, journalists…

FAUCI IS REBUKED IN CONTEMPT VOTE BY SENATE PANEL
to
SPLIT ON PARTY LINES

Resolution Could Lead to Charges Over Refusal to Take Questions

233h ago

The Desert Veteran

@jkz12769.bsky.social

The Fascist Party wants to file contempt charges against Fauci for pleading the 5th

1613h ago

Microplastics Sommelier

@leastactionhero.bsky.social

it’s pretty remarkable to hear people running multiple online grifts call anthony fauci “attention-seeking”

2811h ago

Microplastics Sommelier22

guy's not beyond reproach or anything, but arguably, scientists with high-level government jobs are more worthy of public recognition than, like, reality-show personalities?

Trevor D. Robinson2

Amen! The man was holy humble in public considering his jump to prominence. Hell yeah he can think of himself as a rockstar in his diary. It's a diary. It was private thought. Prosecuting Fauci is shameful. #fauci #uspolitics

John Wallach1

They're worried he might scare off the marks with accurate information.

VERTICAL📼BLANKING📺INTERVAL1

Look at this clout-addict doing public service announcements 🙄

bjkeefe1

All together now, class ... Every Accusation Is A Confession #EAIAC

Jeff Roush

@jeffroushwriting.bsky.social

In a move for a peacock to pull, Paul then bypassed the Senate in full So the Blanche DOJ Has a chance to make hay With the still-flowing stream of Rand’s bull. www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...

1511h ago

Jeff Roush14

With his quest to find villains, we’ve glossed Over more opportunities lost. Just blame attributions Instead of solutions To temper pandemic’s steep cost. www.cnn.com/2026/08/06/p...

davidrlurie

@davidrlurie.com

If Pirro is now desperate to keep her job, and Blanche is up for further embarrassing himself, they will try to bring this farcical case against Dr Fauci.

1411h ago

Bon John

@bonjohnson.bsky.social

It's infuriating to watch criminal republicans attack an American who has served our country to the best of his ability, while pardoning every criminal in the country. #Jan6 #EpsteinFiles Fuck the GOP! 🖕 @senatepress.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/video/us/pol...

48h ago

newmexicanextexan.bsky.social

@newmexicanextexan.bsky.social

Pope Francis Invited Anthony Fauci to the Vatican. MAGA Wants to Throw Him in Jail. open.substack.com/pub/lettersf...

314h ago

Charles Keener

@charleskeener.bsky.social

Senator Paul has said he may send the contempt resolution directly to the Justice Department. Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire criticized the move to hold Fauci in contempt.

414h ago

John Robinson

@jrobin.bsky.social

Masterful: “Republican senators have responded to the crisis in national security and the slowing economy by voting to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for invoking his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent in a Senate Homeland Security and Government Oversight Committee hearing.”

54h ago