Fauci Fight Splits GOP Senators

The Fauci fight is splitting Senate Republicans as Sen. Rand Paul moves to force a contempt referral and two of his GOP colleagues urge caution. The Kentucky Republican said Tuesday he has enough support to hold former White House COVID adviser Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress, setting up a new clash over how far the Senate can go.

Paul’s push stems from Fauci’s repeated use of the Fifth Amendment during recent congressional questioning. Rather than waiting for a full Senate floor vote, which would require 60 votes, Paul is considering sending the matter directly to the Justice Department. That route would bypass the chamber’s normal process and put the issue in the hands of federal prosecutors.

Sen. Josh Hawley is backing the effort and said his office is preparing a legal memo for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche arguing that Fauci can be prosecuted for contempt of Congress. Hawley also argued that Fauci cannot rely on both a pardon and the Fifth Amendment at the same time. Sen. Ashley Moody has taken a similar line, saying the dispute may ultimately need to be settled in court.

But not all Republicans are on board. Sen. James Lankford said the contempt measure should move through the full Senate and warned that skipping that step could create a precedent future Democrats could use against conservatives. Sen. Mike Rounds also questioned whether the legal case for contempt is strong enough, saying the first issue is defining exactly what Fauci would be held in contempt for.