Dr. Anthony Fauci has declined a request to appear before a second Senate panel following a vote to hold him in contempt of Congress, according to a Friday announcement by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI). Fauci’s legal team informed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee that he would not participate in a private transcribed interview regarding the federal government’s COVID-19 response.
Johnson, chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, stated that Fauci’s refusal to testify further underscores the need for continued scrutiny. “Since Fauci refuses to talk about his role and decisions related to COVID-19, my Subcommittee will continue to obtain his records and request to speak with key individuals that he worked with,” Johnson said. He added that the panel would explore legal options before determining next steps.
Fauci’s attorneys argued in an Aug. 14 letter that another appearance would serve no legislative purpose, asserting he had already answered questions transparently during more than 200 congressional appearances over his 38-year tenure at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The letter, obtained by The Epoch Times, stated that Fauci had testified or briefed committees during a two-day transcribed interview and a public hearing in 2024.
The refusal comes after Republicans on the Senate Homeland Security Committee voted 8–5 along party lines on Aug. 6 to hold Fauci in contempt for invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times during a July 29 hearing. The contempt resolution was subsequently delivered to the U.S. Department of Justice for potential prosecution. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), a key figure in the investigation, has pushed to send the referral directly to the DOJ, bypassing a full Senate vote.
Fauci’s legal team contended that the contempt vote was part of a “years-long vindictive crusade” led by Paul, while also disputing claims that former President Joe Biden’s preemptive pardon undermined Fauci’s Fifth Amendment protections. The attorneys maintained that Fauci had already provided honest and complete testimony in prior sessions.
Johnson’s subcommittee is investigating Fauci’s role in the COVID-19 response, including the development and rollout of vaccines. The panel has indicated it will pursue additional records and interviews with associates of Fauci to continue its inquiry. The legal and political implications of the contempt vote and Fauci’s refusal to testify remain unresolved as the subcommittee evaluates its next steps.