Sen. Johnson Votes to Hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in Contempt of Congress

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin voted Thursday to hold former White House COVID-19 adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress during a meeting of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Johnson, who chairs the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said the vote follows what he described as Fauci’s refusal to cooperate with the committee’s investigation into the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic and his decision not to answer questions during a recent Senate hearing.

In remarks before the vote, Johnson argued that congressional oversight of the pandemic response has been ongoing for years and criticized what he called a lack of cooperation from Democrats and federal officials. He said unanswered questions remain about pandemic-era policies, early treatment options, vaccine safety concerns, and Fauci’s public statements during the health crisis.

Johnson also said his investigation is continuing and announced that his committee has invited Fauci to participate in a transcribed interview behind closed doors. He said additional interviews are also planned as the investigation moves forward.

The committee approved the contempt resolution during Thursday’s business meeting. Any further action on the referral would follow the procedures established by Congress and the appropriate authorities.