US Senate committee votes to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress

On August 6, 2026, the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. The 85-year-old former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who retired in 2022, faced scrutiny regarding his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee, led by Republican Senator Rand Paul, moved for the contempt charge after Fauci refused to answer questions during a hearing held the previous week, invoking the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times to avoid self-incrimination.

The committee's decision, which followed partisan lines, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing legislative investigation into federal health policies. The case will now be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice to determine if federal criminal charges will be pursued for non-compliance with a congressional subpoena. Reports note that former President Joe Biden granted Fauci a pardon on his final day in office in 2025, covering actions taken between 2014 and 2025, though the implications of this pardon for current congressional proceedings remain a subject of legal uncertainty. While some sources report he was found guilty by the committee, others clarify that the vote constitutes a referral for further prosecution.