The U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee has advanced a contempt of Congress charge against former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Anthony Fauci. This action follows Fauci’s repeated invocation of his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a recent hearing. Republican lawmakers allege Fauci deliberately avoided answering questions under oath regarding the origins of COVID-19 and federal pandemic responses. The committee vote suggests they believe Fauci's silence constituted defiance of a congressional subpoena. Democrats on the committee criticized the move as politically motivated and an attempt to harass Fauci. Approval by the full Senate is still required before the Justice Department could pursue criminal charges. The case stems from ongoing Republican investigations into the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.