WATCH: Tense Moment Ends With Sen. Paul Kicking Fauci’s Lawyer Out Of Hearing

Despite receiving an executive pardon from Joe Biden (or his autopen), Anthony Fauci continually invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination during an often combative hearing on Capitol Hill this week.

At one point, Fauci’s legal counsel began heckling Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), a frequent and longtime critic of Fauci’s COVID-19 response.

As the New York Post reported, the Kentucky Republican quickly took action:

During the early stages of the hearing, Fauci’s attorney, David Schertler, sat by him. After Paul began threatening repercussions against the former COVID-19 czar, Schertler began speaking out in protest, setting off the Kentucky senator in an explosive exchange.

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“You will respect these proceedings. You were told not to sit at the [witness] table. You insist on sitting at the table, and we told you you would not be recognized. You are not invited here for testimony, sir. You are being disruptive,” Paul shot back.

After Schertler ignored Paul’s admonition not to speak again, the senator ordered security to escort him out, to applause from the audience.

“You are not recognized, sir. Security, please remove him from the room,” Paul said. “Let the record state that Dr. Fauci will still have the advice of the other half a dozen attorneys that he brought along today.”

It was one of several moments that sparked some midweek social media discussion:

He needs to rot in jail. Millions of people died and thousands of businesses closed that will never reopen because of this monster

— Brian (@Stormkloud) July 29, 2026

Gee what a suprise, did everyone think he was going to spill the beans?

Problem is Biden already pardoned him and he’s 85. The real story, is why are we giving money to China to make viruses that could theoretically wipe out the globe

— AL Neil (@AllenDale235818) July 29, 2026

So your soy boy screwed you over. Your whole broadcast company covered for him and you still pander to his ego. You guys are anything but news. Congratulations on screwing over the American public for money and power.

— Rox5tar (@Rox5star) July 29, 2026

Politico added these details:

After asserting his Fifth Amendment rights, Fauci parried Republican senators’ questions by restating his decision. “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution,” he said.

Paul opened his long-sought hearing with Fauci with a litany of statements about what he saw as Fauci’s damning conduct over the course of the pandemic.

“You’re here today under duress,” Paul said, referencing Fauci’s refusal to testify until he received a subpoena.

The senator, who has long called for Fauci’s prosecution, said Fauci advised and influenced governors and public health officials to close schools and churches.

“Instead of an apology, you have for years avoided responsibility,” Paul said. “That loss of trust may be your most damning legacy.”

Paul also cited emails from Fauci that were previously made public asking officials such as Francis Collins, the former director of the National Institutes of Health, to which Fauci’s agency belonged, to delete an email after reading it.

The senator said Fauci had lied to Congress when denying repeatedly that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases funded dangerous research, known as gain-of-function, in China. Paul said Fauci was hiding behind a narrow technical definition of that research.

Paul told Fauci the pardon Biden gave him last year “doesn’t rewrite history,” while protecting Fauci from criminal prosecution.

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“No scientist is above scrutiny. No government official is beyond accountability,” Paul said. “And no public servant has the right to treat the suffering of millions of Americans as a footnote to his preferred version of history,” he added.