Fauci Takes the Fifth; Paul Says Pardon Removes That Shield

Anthony Fauci refused to answer questions at a July 29, 2026 Senate hearing on COVID-19 origins, citing his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination. Senator Rand Paul countered that Fauci's presidential pardon removes any risk of prosecution, voiding that privilege. Whether a pardon — a grant of legal forgiveness — strips the right to stay silent remains legally untested in this form.