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Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly pleads the Fifth in dramatic Senate hearing about Covid pandemic

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Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the US government response to the Covid-19 pandemic, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, refusing to testify Wednesday just minutes into a Capitol Hill hearing that Republicans outwardly hoped would undermine the scientist and open him to claims of perjury. Fauci, though, noted in his opening statement that GOP lawmakers had made clear they wanted to use the hearing to get him prosecuted. But Republican Senators proceeded with the hearing anyway, peppering the scientist with inquiries about NIH-funded research and the origins of Covid-19. Fauci mostly stared straight ahead, repeatedly invoking his Fifth Amendment right. But at times, frustration appeared to flash across his face. And in a particularly dramatic moment, Paul had Fauci's attorney, David Schertler, escorted out as the lawyer repeatedly tried to interject and invoke Fauci's Fifth Amendment rights. He concluded his remarks saying: 'Although it pains me to do so because of the respect that I have for the legislative branch of government and my decades long record of cooperating with Congress, under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the 5th Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions.'