A Republican-controlled Senate committee voted Thursday to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after the former White House COVID-19 adviser repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a contentious hearing last week.

The 8-5 party-line vote in the Senate panel advanced a resolution that could lead to criminal charges, though the measure would require 60 votes in the full Senate to proceed to the Department of Justice for potential prosecution. Republicans accused Fauci of stonewalling a congressional investigation into the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the origins of the virus.

Fifth Amendment Invoked During Hostile Questioning

Fauci, who served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for nearly four decades before retiring in 2022, repeatedly pleaded the Fifth during questioning by Senator Rand Paul and other Republican members. The hearing focused on allegations that Fauci funded research in China that may have contributed to the creation of the COVID-19 virus, claims Fauci has consistently denied.

According to multiple news reports, the Senate panel has also obtained a copy of Fauci's government-issued cellphone as part of its investigation. Senator Paul, who has led the charge against Fauci, has publicly stated he wants to see the former health official imprisoned for what he characterizes as lying to Congress about the origins of the pandemic.

Multiple Legal Challenges Mounting

The contempt vote comes as Fauci faces additional legal pressure from state-level investigations. Three Republican state attorneys general, including Florida's, issued subpoenas to Fauci earlier this week over allegations he profited from COVID-19 guidance through book deals, speaking fees, and awards. The state AGs are investigating whether Fauci promulgated health guidance that impacted residents and businesses while generating personal financial gain.

The Guardian reported that the contempt resolution follows what Republicans described as Fauci's refusal to cooperate with their oversight investigation despite a congressional subpoena. Democrats on the committee defended Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment as a constitutional right and criticized Republicans for what they called a politically motivated attack on a public health official.

Path Forward Unclear

If the contempt resolution advances to the full Senate, it would need support from at least 10 Democrats to reach the 60-vote threshold required to send the matter to the U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia. Legal experts say such bipartisan support appears unlikely given the partisan nature of the COVID-19 investigations and Democrats' general support for Fauci's pandemic response efforts.

The Bloomberg news service noted that even if the Senate were to approve the contempt resolution, federal prosecutors would retain discretion over whether to bring the case before a grand jury for potential criminal charges. Previous contempt of Congress cases have produced mixed results in terms of prosecution and conviction.