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Anthony Fauci refuses to answer questions during US Senate hearing about Covid origins

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Former top US health official Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment during a hearing before a Republican-led Senate committee about the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. Fauci's refusal to answer questions came at the beginning of the hearing on Wednesday, days after Republican Senator Rand Paul released Fauci writings in which he mused about his fame and the origins of Covid. 'Although it pains me to do so because of the respect I have for the legislative branch of government ... under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the Fifth Amendment of the constitution to refrain from answering your questions,' Fauci said. Taking the Fifth is not an admission of guilt - it is designed to protect individuals against coercion, mistakes, and unfair burden-shifting. Paul continued questioning Fauci despite his refusal to answer. The hearing grew tense at times, including when one of Fauci's lawyers who was seated next to him repeatedly tried to interject during Paul's questioning. Paul directed a security guard to remove him from the room.