Republican Sen. Rand Paul questioned Fauci about COVID-19’s origins and American funding connected to virus research conducted in Wuhan, China.
Fauci declined to answer more than 100 questions while accusing Paul of pursuing an “obvious obsession with calling for my prosecution.” Paul argues that Fauci misled Congress about research funded by the National Institutes of Health, while Fauci has consistently denied lying. The committee could pursue contempt proceedings, although Reuters reported that criminal prosecution would require several additional steps. Fauci received what was viewed as a somewhat unprecedented pardon from then-president Joe Biden, covering the immunologist’s activities in government between 2014 and Biden’s last day in office in January 2025. Republicans contended that the pardon wouldn’t apply to Wednesday’s hearing.
The U.S., despite a reputation for public health and medical research excellence, suffered many more COVID-19 deaths overall and on a per capita basis — more than 1.2 million people at last comprehensive count — than other G7 countries. The U.S. has also seen more intense partisan divides over the years about the origins and handling of the pandemic, which was declared by the World Health Organization in March 2020. The Senate committee plans to consider whether Fauci should face contempt proceedings when lawmakers return during the week beginning August 3.