(The Center Square) - U.S. Senators advanced, in an 8-5 vote on Thursday, a contempt of Congress resolution that could refer Anthony Fauci to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C.
Fauci testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Governmental Affairs Committee last week. He invoked his Fifth Amendment right to protect against self-incrimination more than 100 times during the hearing.
"Holding a witness in contempt is a serious thing, and it should be rare," U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said. "But the contempt power exists for precisely this circumstance,"
Paul's resolution called for sending Fauci's contempt vote to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C., led by Jeanine Pirro. Paul could bypass a vote by the full Senate to advance the contempt resolution.
Republicans fiercly criticized Fauci for refusing to answer questions last week. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said he asked Fauci the color of his tie last week to test whether he answered questions in "good faith."
Hawley said Fauci needed to assert specific claims on his fear of prosecution to be adequately protected by the Fifth Amendment. He said Fauci did not display those fears in his answers to questions.
"He wouldn't answer that betrays the fact that his invocation of the Fifth Amendment wasn't tailored to anything; it was a predetermined, premeditated design," Hawley said. "He had no interest and no intention of answering any of our questions. There's no privilege for any of that."
Republicans on the committee also pointed to Fauci's pardon from President Joe Biden, an order that granted him aid from criminal prosecution over his activities leading the COVID-19 response.
"What he displayed last Wednesday was contempt for Congress, contempt for this committee, contempt for our investigation," Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., said.
"Oversight is not a courtesy this committee extends or a favor a former official grants us; it is a constitutional obligation," Paul said.
Evangel quarterback Peyton “Pop” Houston took his talents to national television Wednesday morning, appearing with his father, Shaun, on CBS Mornings to discuss his groundbreaking name, image and likeness deal with Nike.
Missoula, Mont. — Hellgate Elementary is opening on-site childcare for staff, giving teachers and other employees a closer option for their youngest children when school starts.
(The Center Square) – The Republican lawmaker who sponsored the Great American Healthcare Act presented a plan Wednesday to help fund the bill: stop the Federal Reserve from paying interest on bank reserves.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Post a comment as Guest
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.