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Good Morning America ShopGMA Interest Successfully Added We'll notify you here with news about Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Off On Stream on The Latest: Dr. Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment in Republican-led COVID-19 Senate hearing Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer questions from senators in a Republican-led committee hearing about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic
Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer questions from senators in a Republican-led committee hearing about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky subpoenaed Fauci to appear before a Senate committee. It’s part of Paul’s yearslong accusations that the now-retired infectious disease expert had lied about the pandemic, something Fauci has called “preposterous.”
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“Well, nothing says honesty like taking the 5th, huh, doc?” the Republican Missouri senator said, launching immediately into a searing critique of Fauci declining to answer questions.
Hawley proceeded with a mocking exchange.
“What color is the carpet in front of you?”
Each time, Fauci answered, “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.”
Hawley then proceeded to a lengthy list of questions that accused Fauci of misconduct in his government role.
So was Hawley’s: “Yeah, well, silence is admission.”
In fact, individuals who invoke constitutional protections not to answer questions under oath are not admitting guilt of any crime.
In a public letter, more than 150 infectious-disease experts and other scientists wrote that “no credible evidence has been produced to support these absurd charges” and that they are “urging our elected representatives in Congress stop these witch-hunts.”
The Fox News host used her show and social media platform to repeatedly spread misinformation during the pandemic.
In the pandemic’s early stages, Ingraham downplayed the spread of COVID-19. She went on to mock mask mandates, social distancing guidelines, people who wore masks and those who got vaccinations.
She also endorsed unproven remedies — including hydroxychloroquine — that the FDA had warned against.
Recently on her show, Ingraham has discussed Fauci’s diary entries that Sen. Paul released. She called Fauci a “little man with a big ego” and had Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on her show to blast Fauci’s “mismanagement” of the pandemic.
A representative who was among those who accompanied Fauci tried to speak without being recognized, angering Paul and leading to the man’s removal.
“He is not recognized by the committee or the chair. If he speaks again, he will be removed from the room,” Paul said. “This testimony is from Anthony Fauci. This is not a game with his lawyers.”
Paul said Fauci’s representatives and advisers “are all allowed to talk to him. ... But the attorneys are not recognized” to address lawmakers.
When the man persisted, Paul summoned Capitol Police.
“Please remove him from the room,” Paul said.
Sen. Gary Peters, the ranking Democrat, said he wanted to hear what Fauci’s counsel had to say. The Republican chair quipped back that Fauci “will still have the advice of the other half a dozen attorneys that he brought along today.”
Before President Joe Biden left office, he gave Fauci a preemptive “full and unconditional” pardon , dating back to 2014. So, why would Fauci need to invoke the Fifth now?
The decision may center on several Republicans’ comments that Fauci could still be criminally prosecuted for perjury if he lies under oath.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist before entering office, was among the Trump allies suggesting that possibility this week.
Fauci said in his opening statement that he believed Paul wanted him to testify so he could say something that might justify his arrest.
The Kentucky senator is an ophthalmologist who’s conversant, if not fluent, in the language of scientific and medical research.
And with Fauci pleading the Fifth, Paul is free to go through his account of the record, asking detailed questions he knows the witness will not answer.
He’s asked about NIH funding of Chinese research.
Fauci responded: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment.”
The senator delved into details about virus mutations and the dangers of such research.
Fauci stuck to his script: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment.”
And throughout their exchange, Paul weaved in his analysis of Fauci’s actions to frame the one-sided conversation his way.
The Fifth Amendment is a constitutional protection against self-incrimination during questioning by law enforcement authorities and Congress.
In the case of Fauci, for instance, some Republicans have talked openly about their desire to see the doctor prosecuted, and in opting to invoke his rights, Fauci cited his concern that Republican Sen. Rand Paul would try to elicit testimony that “could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words, quote, behind bars, unquote.”
Many scientists believe the virus most likely emerged in nature and jumped from animals to people, coming to light when it spread at a wildlife market in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
There’s no new scientific information supporting that the virus might instead have leaked from a laboratory, a theory Paul ...
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