Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 70 times during a Senate hearing on COVID-19 origins, refusing to answer questions from lawmakers. The appearance before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee came after President Joe Biden issued a pardon to Fauci in January 2025. Senator Rand Paul, who chairs the committee, questioned whether Fauci could legally plead the Fifth after receiving a pardon, arguing that the Fifth Amendment protects against self-incrimination, which a pardon may nullify. Paul said the committee would vote next week on whether to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress for his refusal to testify. Tina Descovich, co-founder of the conservative group Moms for Liberty, criticized Fauci's actions, stating that America deserves an apology for his handling of the pandemic. The hearing, which lasted several hours, focused on the origins of the coronavirus and Fauci's role in funding research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Fauci’s lawyers have maintained that his Fifth Amendment plea was legally valid despite the pardon, citing potential liability for statements made under oath. The contempt vote could escalate the confrontation between Congress and the former top infectious disease official.