• Dr. Anthony Fauci is expected to invoke the Fifth Amendment at an upcoming Senate hearing, according to people familiar with the matter.
  • The move follows escalating scrutiny of his handling of COVID-19 origins and related research funding.
  • The hearing could intensify political divisions over pandemic policy and spark new calls for transparency.

Fauci to Plead Fifth

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former top infectious disease official, is planning to plead the Fifth Amendment at a Senate hearing scheduled for next week, according to two people familiar with the matter. The decision marks a dramatic escalation in the long-running battle between Fauci and Republican lawmakers who have sought to hold him accountable for the government's pandemic response.

The hearing, convened by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is expected to focus on Fauci's role in funding research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and his handling of internal communications. Fauci's legal team informed the committee of his intent, the people said, adding that the move was taken to avoid self-incrimination amid a Justice Department inquiry into potential mishandling of records.

Reached for comment, a spokesperson for Fauci declined to confirm the plans, saying only that he “will appear as required and respect the process.” The committee's chairman, Senator Rand Paul, has been a vocal critic of Fauci and has vowed to press him on unanswered questions. “The American people deserve the truth,” Paul said in a statement. “Invoking the Fifth is a clear admission of wrongdoing.”

The development comes as a federal grand jury in Washington has been examining whether Fauci misled Congress about the funding of gain-of-function research. The inquiry, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, has not resulted in charges. Fauci has denied any wrongdoing.

Broader Implications

The hearing threatens to reignite partisan battles over COVID-19 origins and the role of government scientists. For markets, the immediate impact is muted, but biotech firms with ties to pandemic research could face scrutiny if new evidence emerges. The event also underscores the deepening polarization around public health policy, analysts say.

A correction was appended: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the date of the hearing as Wednesday. The hearing is set for Tuesday.