Dr. Anthony Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment 111 times at Senate hearing on COVID-19 pandemic policies

Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on July 29, 2026, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 111 times, according to Fox News. He declined to answer every question posed by senators, including, as Fox News reported, basic questions such as the day of the week and the color of his tie.

The hearing was ordered after diary entries attributed to Fauci were made public, which Fox News reported showed him privately taking credit for COVID-19 lockdowns — policies he had publicly denied implementing. Senator Ted Cruz alleged at the hearing that the diary entries revealed Fauci had lied to Congress and the public, including about the origins of the virus and his involvement in gain-of-function research. Fauci has not publicly responded to those specific allegations in the coverage reviewed.

CNN's coverage focused on the post-hearing congressional response, reporting that House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan said he would review hearing transcripts to determine whether Fauci should be held in contempt of Congress. Jordan did not state a definitive position in the interview, saying only that the committee would examine the record before making a decision.