Republican Sen. Rand Paul’s effort to compel Dr. Anthony Fauci’s former special assistant to testify in an investigation by granting her an immunity order failed to pass the Senate Homeland Security Committee after every Democrat voted against it.
Paul needed at least two Democrats to support the motion in order to meet the required two-thirds threshold. The failed motion set back Paul’s latest investigation into Fauci, which stems from the senator’s claims that the infectious disease expert lied to the public about the COVID-19 virus’ origins.
The Republican-led probe will continue despite Fauci invoking his right to not self incriminate more than 100 times during a contentious hearing in July, Paul said during the committee hearing. Fauci’s unidentified assistant also invoked her Fifth Amendment rights when she was subpoenaed last week, Paul added.
“She may have that right, but her silence does not end this investigation,” Paul said. “This resolution allows us to ask a federal court to grant her immunity. … We are here today to remove the obstacles she raised so she can answer the committee questions without any fear of conviction.”
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Paul said he is specifically seeking more details about what the assistant knew in regards to an email Fauci sent to former World Health Organization Chief Scientist Jeremy Farrar on Jan. 30, 2020, about the virus’ “spike protein.”
On Wednesday, one Democrat voted in person and six others voted by proxy, while all eight of the committee’s Republicans were present to vote in favor of the motion.
“A majority of the committee voted to seek the truth. All Republicans voted to seek the truth,” Paul said after the 8-7 vote divided along party lines. “We voted to protect this witness and hear her story.”
“This is disappointing. It doesn’t end here,” Paul said, later pledging to ask the Justice Department to “pursue this,” though he did not give additional details.
In August, Paul asked the Justice Department for the fourth time to investigate Fauci, who was granted preemptive pardon by former President Joe Biden that protects him from federal prosecution.
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