Fauci declines Senate appearance, citing Fifth Amendment in ongoing COVID probe

Dr. Anthony Fauci refused to voluntarily testify before a second Senate panel investigating his COVID-19 handling, arguing that compelling testimony would amount to harassment for political purposes. The move follows a July hearing in which he invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times, prompting a contempt-of-Congress referral and a dispute over whether a Biden pardon or ongoing investigations justify forcing testimony, with Republicans pressing to subpoena him and potentially involve the DOJ.