Republican senators release Dr. Anthony Fauci's text messages and move to hold him in contempt

The Senate committee's contempt vote initiates a formal legal process that could lead to a grand jury review of Dr. Fauci's refusal to testify, while the released texts provide public insight into internal government communications regarding pandemic-era vaccine guidance.

• •The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress.
• •The contempt vote follows Dr. Fauci's refusal to answer over 100 questions during a three-hour hearing last month.
• •Dr. Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during the hearing.
• •The contempt referral is now directed to the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia for potential grand jury proceedings.
• •Senators Ron Johnson and Rand Paul released 11 text exchanges from Dr. Fauci's former government phones.
• •The released devices reportedly contained more than 34,000 total messages.
• •One released text from 2021 shows Dr. Fauci discussing the need to weigh risks and benefits of vaccines for pregnant women.
• •Dr. Fauci's text noted that more than 10,000 pregnant women had been vaccinated following the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) with no reported issues at that time.