Story perspectives

Senate Committee Votes to Hold Fauci in Contempt

8/15/2026

Left

Paul, Johnson Release

Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson released eleven text messages from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s phone discussing COVID-19 vaccine safety for pregnant women in January 2021.
Republican officials used the messages to promote an unfounded claim that the vaccine causes an 82 % miscarriage risk for pregnant women.
Large studies found no increased miscarriage, stillbirth, or preterm birth risk from COVID-19 vaccines.
A September 2021 NEJM correction said data insufficient to assess miscarriage risk.

Right

Paul, Johnson Release

Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson released eleven texts from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s phone about COVID-19 vaccine safety for pregnant women.
The messages show Fauci privately raised miscarriage concerns while publicly assuring safety, fueling calls for accountability and possible criminal investigation.
Senator Roger Marshall called for a special-counsel or 9/11-style commission to examine the texts.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said the messages will be central to his state probe.

Center

Paul & Johnson Release

Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson released 11 texts from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s government-issued phone discussing COVID-19 vaccine safety for pregnant women.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted to hold Fauci in contempt after he invoked Fifth Amendment.
Fauci said fever or cytokine storm after a second dose could cause first-trimester miscarriage.
CBS News reported he said on Feb. 25 2021 that no issues appeared among 10,000 pregnant women.

Blindspot

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt after he invoked the Fifth Amendment during a hearing.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Left-leaning and Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

In 1976 the CDC, led by Director William Foege, launched a mass swine-flu vaccination after a Fort Dix outbreak; about 43 million Americans received the shot, but the CDC later noted roughly one extra Guillain-Barré case per 100,000 vaccinated, prompting a program halt. That episode is cited today as Senators Rand Paul, Ron Johnson and James Uthmeier question Dr. Fauci’s vaccine-safety communications.

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Paul, Johnson Release

Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson released eleven text messages from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s phone discussing COVID-19 vaccine safety for pregnant women in January 2021.
Republican officials used the messages to promote an unfounded claim that the vaccine causes an 82 % miscarriage risk for pregnant women.
Large studies found no increased miscarriage, stillbirth, or preterm birth risk from COVID-19 vaccines.
A September 2021 NEJM correction said data insufficient to assess miscarriage risk.

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