BS BRIEF
- Sen. Josh Hawley confronted Dr. Anthony Fauci during Wednesday’s Senate hearing, arguing that because Fauci received a broad presidential pardon from Joe Biden, he could not lawfully invoke the Fifth Amendment to avoid testimony.
- Hawley cited the Supreme Court’s 1896 decision in Brown v. Walker, arguing that a witness who has been pardoned “may not stand upon his privilege” against self-incrimination.
HAWLEY ABSOLUTELY TORCHES FAUCI: ‘YOU GOT RICH WHILE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS WERE DYING’
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) delivered one of the most blistering moments of Wednesday’s Senate hearing, unloading on Dr. Anthony Fauci after the former COVID czar repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment instead of answering lawmakers’ questions.
Hawley argued that Fauci’s silence wasn’t about protecting constitutional rights—it was about avoiding accountability.
“I think I know why you’re doing it,” Hawley told Fauci. “It’s because you don’t want to answer questions. It’s because you did all kinds of terrible things.”
Then Hawley twisted the knife.
“It’s because during the pandemic you got rich, didn’t you? You got rich while hundreds of thousands of Americans were dying.”
The Missouri senator wasn’t finished.
Pointing to Fauci’s financial disclosures, Hawley accused the longtime government health official of personally benefiting while Americans endured lockdowns, business closures, school shutdowns, and devastating loss.
“You got over $1 million in cash awards. Now you’re worth more than $12 million. You’ve got a pension that in its first year paid out north of $400,000 a year. You’re getting rich!”
Earlier in the hearing, Hawley challenged Fauci’s decision to invoke the Fifth Amendment at all, arguing that former President Joe Biden’s pardon stripped him of that protection.
“You don’t have ANY rights under the Fifth Amendment because you have been pardoned, as you very well know,” Hawley said.
Citing the Supreme Court’s 1896 decision in Brown v. Walker, Hawley argued, “When he has been pardoned he may not stand upon his privilege.”
Turning toward Fauci’s legal team, Hawley added, “You know that. Your lawyers sitting behind you shifting nervously in their chairs know it.”
Hawley then mocked Fauci’s willingness to participate in media appearances while refusing to answer Congress.
“You could sit for InStyle magazine, but you can’t answer questions for the American people.”
Then came another jab.
“You could sit for InStyle Magazine and get a million bucks, but now the cat’s got your tongue.”
Throughout the exchange, Fauci remained silent, repeatedly relying on his Fifth Amendment claim rather than responding to Hawley’s accusations.
DBS WIRE SOURCES:
- Reuters – Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment, declines to answer at Rand Paul hearing
- Associated Press – Fauci invokes the Fifth Amendment and declines to testify in GOP-led Senate panel’s COVID-19 hearing
- Senate Homeland Security Committee – Testimony of Anthony Fauci Hearing page
- Legal Information Institute – Brown v. Walker (1896) Supreme Court decision
