A House Republican proposal would permanently bar Dr Anthony Fauci from future federal government employment after he invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a Senate hearing. The measure reflects continuing Republican criticism of Fauci’s role in the US pandemic response and could intensify political and legal scrutiny of the former public health official.

The bill was introduced by Representative Rich McCormick, a Republican from Georgia, following Fauci’s appearance before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. The article says Fauci declined to answer questions by invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination; it does not state whether the proposal has sufficient support to become law.