Sen. Rand Paul says he will seek a contempt vote after Anthony Fauci invokes the Fifth Amendment at a congressional hearing

Sen. Rand Paul said he will hold a contempt vote after Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer questions during a congressional hearing, according to PBS NewsHour.

In footage shown by PBS, Fauci invoked his constitutional right and refused to respond to questions put to him during the hearing. Paul, speaking afterward, said the refusal prompted plans to use the Senate’s contempt process, PBS reported.

PBS also reported that Paul pointed to prior comments he attributed to himself, saying Fauci had referenced Paul’s earlier remarks about incarceration in connection with the dispute. The exchange, as described by PBS, centers on whether Fauci can decline to answer questions under the Fifth Amendment in this setting.

Paul’s announcement indicates an escalation from a refusal to testify into potential enforcement steps by the committee or chamber, depending on procedural posture. In the event a contempt vote proceeds, the matter would be tied to congressional authority to respond to noncompliance with subpoenas or testimony obligations.

The dispute also highlights a broader procedural fight over the scope of the Fifth Amendment in congressional proceedings, including whether a witness’s invocation will be treated as sufficiently supported or whether the committee will pursue formal action. PBS characterized the moment as a direct confrontation between the witness’s constitutional invocation and Paul’s plan to press forward with contempt.

No outcome from a contempt vote was reported by PBS in the item provided. The next step would depend on the hearing’s record, the committee’s rules, and whether lawmakers proceed to formal action following Paul’s stated intent.