Senate Hearing Turns Contentious Over Fauci Attorney

During a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing in which Dr. Anthony Fauci testified, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) ordered Capitol Police to remove Dr. Fauci’s defense lawyer, David Schertler. Paul asserted that Schertler had not been authorized to speak, had been instructed not to sit at the witness table, and was disrupting the proceedings. After Paul repeatedly told Schertler he would not be recognized, officers escorted the attorney from the hearing room.

New York Post

Dr. Fauci appeared before the committee to address public-health matters, and his legal counsel was present to advise him. According to the hearing’s protocol, attorneys are not permitted to sit at the witness table unless specifically invited. Paul contended that Schertler ignored this rule, prompting the security action. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) interjected, requesting that Schertler be given an opportunity to speak, but the request was denied.

New York Post

Sen. He warned that such behavior would not be tolerated in a courtroom, though he could not arrest Schertler. The Capitol Police complied with Paul’s directive, removing the attorney without further incident. No response from Dr. Fauci’s office or from Schertler was recorded in the hearing transcript.

New York Post

• “There’s a row behind you, sir. That’s where you were told to sit … and now you’re disrupting the proceedings,” — Sen. Rand Paul

New York Post