US Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt

A parliamentary oversight committee announced on Tuesday that it will refer a senior official to the appropriate legal authorities for possible prosecution after he repeatedly declined to answer questions concerning his management of the Covid‑19 pandemic. The decision follows a series of hearings in which the committee sought detailed explanations of the policies and actions taken during the health crisis, but the official invoked privilege and refused to provide substantive responses.

Committee chairperson Sarah Mitchell said the refusal to cooperate undermines the accountability mechanisms established for public officials and constitutes a breach of statutory obligations to appear before the committee. The referral will be sent to the Attorney General’s office, which will determine whether charges such as contempt of parliament are warranted. The committee indicated that it will continue its investigation into the pandemic response, emphasizing that the referral does not preclude further scrutiny or future legislative action.