Fauci invokes fifth amendment, refuses Senate questions on Covid origins

Former US health official Dr Anthony Fauci declined to answer questions during a Senate hearing on the origins of Covid-19, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination amid growing political scrutiny from Republican lawmakers.

Fauci told the hearing he was acting on legal advice and feared his testimony could be used in efforts to pursue a perjury case against him. He accused Republican Senator Rand Paul of repeatedly seeking grounds for criminal charges and said he believed the hearing was intended to trap him into making statements that could be used against him.

The hearing centred on newly released pandemic-era writings by Fauci, published by Senator Paul days earlier. Republicans argued that some of the documents suggested Fauci privately entertained the possibility that the coronavirus originated from a laboratory, despite publicly expressing support for a natural origin theory during the pandemic.

However, records cited during the hearing showed Fauci initially considered both the lab-leak and natural-origin theories before later concluding that a natural spillover from animals appeared more likely, while still keeping an open mind about other possibilities.

The proceedings became tense as Paul continued questioning Fauci despite his refusal to respond. At one point, a lawyer representing Fauci attempted to intervene and was ordered removed from the hearing room.

Republican senators criticised Fauci’s decision to remain silent, with some arguing that the public deserved answers about the government’s handling of the pandemic and its understanding of the virus’s origins.

Democratic lawmakers defended the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director, arguing that the hearing was politically motivated and designed to pressure him. They also used the session to raise concerns about public health challenges under current Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Fauci, who retired in 2022 after decades in public service, became one of the most prominent figures in America’s response to Covid-19. His role during the pandemic made him a target of criticism from some conservatives, while supporters praised his efforts to guide public health policy during a global crisis.

The World Health Organization has said the theory that Covid-19 spread naturally from animals to humans remains the most strongly supported by available evidence, although it has acknowledged that the virus’s exact origins have not been conclusively established.

Source: BBC