Former White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination while being grilled by Republicans during a contentious Senate hearing Wednesday. He added that, in following the advice of his attorneys, invoking the Fifth Amendment was necessary because any statement could expose him to allegations of perjury or other legal risks. The Kentucky Republican has long accused Fauci of misleading Congress regarding so-called gain-of-function research, an allegation Fauci has consistently denied. Scientific reviews and previous congressional investigations have not established evidence that Fauci knowingly funded research responsible for creating SARS-CoV-2. The hearing also revived debate over former President Joe Biden's preemptive pardon of Fauci before leaving office.