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Jul 14, 2026

NEW: Two GOP Senators Hint At Letting Fauci Off The Hook

Two Republican senators are challenging a push to send former White House COVID adviser Anthony Fauci to the Justice Department even as Sen. Rand Paul pursues a criminal contempt referral.

Paul, R-Ky., said Tuesday he believes there are votes to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress after the former health official repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during questioning.

Paul is considering taking the referral directly to the Justice Department rather than waiting for a full Senate vote, which would require 60 votes to advance.

Sen. Josh Hawley said his staff is already drafting a legal memo for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, urging the department to prosecute Fauci.

“My team is working right now on a memo to Blanche explaining why we think that he can be prosecuted for contempt of Congress,” Hawley told Fox News Digital. “He’s not entitled to immunity, taken the Fifth, when he already has a pardon. It’s one or the other. ”

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted Thursday to hold Fauci in contempt. Under the usual process, the resolution would next go before the full Senate.

Sen. James Lankford, however, warned that Paul’s proposed shortcut could create political consequences for Republicans later.

“It’s got to actually go through the full Senate,” Lankford said. “That’s the challenge.”

Under Paul’s plan, Vice President JD Vance, serving as president of the Senate, could certify the resolution and refer the case to the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

Lankford suggested Republicans should think carefully before embracing a procedure that Democrats could use against conservatives in a future administration.

“The vice president would have to make a decision if he wants to try to change the structure of what has been done in the Senate, because then that would make them vulnerable three years from now to a future, maybe, Democrat Senate,” Lankford said.

Sen. Mike Rounds expressed skepticism that Republicans have established a strong enough legal basis to hold Fauci in contempt.

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