Former U.S. Chief Medical Advisor invoked his right to remain silent after being questioned about the origin of the COVID-19 virus, while Republican lawmakers sought to accuse him of withholding information.
On Wednesday, 29 Jul 2026 GMT+7, Dr. Anthony Fauci, former U.S. Chief Medical Officer for Infectious Diseases, testified before a Republican-led Senate committee regarding allegations that he concealed information about the origin of COVID-19, a highly contentious issue. Dr. Fauci chose to invoke his right to not answer questions, following his lawyers' advice.
The 85-year-old Dr. Fauci declined to answer several questions by invoking the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which allows individuals to refuse testimony that might incriminate themselves criminally.
Fauci expressed concern that Republican members would use his sworn testimony to pursue charges of "perjury," despite a prior presidential pardon from former President Joe Biden covering him from 2014 to 2025. However, new testimony or state-level cases could still be grounds for prosecution.
Republicans, especially Senator Rand Paul, accused Dr. Fauci of attempting to conceal the virus's origin because although Fauci privately believed the virus leaked from a Wuhan, China lab, he publicly stated it originated naturally.
Earlier records from Fauci released in early 2020 showed he considered both natural origin and lab leak scenarios possible but later leaned toward natural origin, noting, "While both are possible, it does not mean they are equally likely."
During testimony, Dr. Fauci said that Senator Rand Paul and the Republicans aimed clearly to imprison him, describing the hearing as more about nitpicking than seeking truth.
At one point, Fauci’s attorney attempted to interject during Senator Paul's questioning but was ordered out of the room. The legal team called this an excessive action and described it as "personal retaliation."
Senator Rand Paul plans to push a resolution next week that could punish Dr. Fauci for "contempt of Congress," while Florida prosecutors, aligned with Republicans, have announced further investigations into Fauci.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump posted messages attacking Dr. Fauci as "crazy" and accused him of defending China, despite Trump’s longstanding belief that COVID-19 originated in a laboratory.
Democrats defended Dr. Fauci, stating that the questioning was designed to "set a trap" to legally prosecute him.
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Source:bbc