Republican Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona renewed his criticism of Anthony Fauci after the former health official invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times during a Senate hearing on the COVID-19 response and the pandemic’s origins.
In a July 29 statement, Biggs said he was among the first lawmakers to challenge Fauci’s guidance in 2020 and blamed lockdowns for damaging lives and livelihoods. “History has already judged Fauci,” Biggs said, urging the country never again to accept comparable shutdown policies.
Fauci appeared under subpoena before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. Senators questioned him about the virus’s origins, federally funded research in China and pandemic policies. Fauci repeatedly declined to answer on advice of counsel, invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination. He accused Paul of trying to elicit testimony supporting calls for his prosecution.
Former President Joe Biden’s January 2025 pardon covered potential federal offenses tied to Fauci’s government service from 2014 through the date of the pardon. Paul and other Republicans argued the pardon removed Fauci’s exposure for covered conduct. Fauci’s attorneys and committee Democrats countered that state charges or an investigation into new testimony remained possible.
The standoff escalated Aug. 6, when the committee voted 8-5 along party lines to hold Fauci in contempt. Paul sent the referral directly to the Department of Justice, which said it was reviewing the matter. Ranking Democrat Gary Peters argued a full Senate vote is required and warned the move could weaken congressional oversight.
Fauci denies Republican allegations that he covered up the virus’s origins or funded research that caused the pandemic. The National Institutes of Health has rejected that claim. Biggs, the Republican nominee for Arizona governor, is carrying his opposition to pandemic restrictions into the Senate’s accountability fight.
