Former U.S. infectious disease adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a dramatic Senate hearing examining decisions made during the COVID-19 plandemic, drawing sharp reactions from Republican lawmakers and renewed political debate over the government’s handling of the crisis.

The hearing, led by members of the Senate committee investigating the origins of COVID-19 and the federal response, focused on issues including gain-of-function research, funding for overseas laboratories, lockdown policies, vaccine mandates, and public communication during the pandemic.

At several points during questioning, Fauci declined to answer specific questions and responded by stating that he was exercising his constitutional rights under the Fifth Amendment. His refusal to provide direct answers prompted criticism from some senators, who argued that the American public deserves greater transparency regarding decisions that affected millions of lives and trillions of dollars in economic activity.

The hearing marks the latest chapter in the continuing political and legal scrutiny surrounding the U.S. government’s response to one of the most significant public health emergencies in modern history.

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