Senate Committee Moves Toward Contempt Vote for Dr. Anthony Fauci Amid Growing Political Rhetoric

A U.S. Senate committee is scheduled to vote on Thursday morning on whether to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during a recent hearing on his pandemic-era actions. The hearing focused on Fauci’s role as chief medical adviser to seven presidents and his leadership of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

The Guardian

Katie Miller, former communications director for Vice President Mike Pence and wife of former White House adviser Stephen Miller, previously relied on Fauci’s guidance during the early COVID-19 crisis. Fauci’s notes from March 25 2020 describe her as “great (tough, smart, but great),” and he recorded personal check-ins when she was pregnant in May 2020. “She is very anxious about getting very ill since she is 10 weeks pregnant. Tonight she had an anxiety reaction. I calmed her over the phone,” — Dr. Fauci By September 2025, Miller publicly accused Fauci of “maximizing his popularity” and called for his imprisonment, stating “he should be in jail.” “Fauci cared more about virtue signaling than science,” — Katie Miller Her shift reflects a broader Republican effort to politicize the former public-health chief ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The Guardian

Céline Gounder, editor-at-large for public-health coverage at KFF Health News, highlighted the scale of intimidation faced by the public-health workforce. She cited 1,499 harassment incidents across 583 local health departments between March 2020 and January 2021, and 222 officials who left the field because of targeting. A 2024 survey showed 71 % of the public-health workforce reported at least one burnout symptom, with 20 % experiencing near-constant symptoms. Gounder also noted three senior CDC leaders resigned last August and one was fired for refusing to endorse anti-vaccine policies, while a gunman fired more than 180 rounds at the CDC campus, killing a police officer.

The Guardian

He warned that the trials facing Fauci could deter future public-health leaders.

The Guardian

• “That’s the episode that got tagged ‘muzzling Fauci’,” — Céline Gounder “That’s the episode that got tagged ‘muzzling Fauci’,” — Céline Gounder

The Guardian

• “The more interesting story to me is who had private access to federal scientific expertise, what that access was worth in 2020, and what those same people have said about that expertise since,” — Céline Gounder “The more interesting story to me is who had private access to federal scientific expertise, what that access was worth in 2020, and what those same people have said about that expertise since,” — Céline Gounder

The Guardian

• “A president publicly minimized a virus he was privately treated for with a drug the public couldn’t get,” — Céline Gounder “A president publicly minimized a virus he was privately treated for with a drug the public couldn’t get,” — Céline Gounder

The Guardian

• “If you’re 40 and choosing between US government service and industry, that’s now part of the math, not just the vast differences in compensation,” — Céline Gounder “If you’re 40 and choosing between US government service and industry, that’s now part of the math, not just the vast differences in compensation,” — Céline Gounder

The Guardian