Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a Senate hearing on his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, declining to answer questions from a Republican-led committee. The dispute matters because Senator Rand Paul intends to pursue a contempt vote, while legal experts are divided over whether the broad presidential pardon Fauci received removes his ability to claim protection against self-incrimination.

President Biden's pardon covered federal offences connected to Fauci's public service between 2014 and January 2025, but it may not extend to potential state-level offences, conduct falling outside that period, or new offences such as perjury. Paul argues the pardon leaves Fauci without a valid basis for invoking the Fifth Amendment, whereas Fauci's position is that answering the committee's questions could still expose him to legal risk.