Fauci appeared under subpoena after Paul sought testimony as part of the committee's ongoing review of COVID-19-related federal policies. The Fifth Amendment protects individuals from being compelled to provide testimony that could incriminate them in criminal proceedings. Paul ruled the attorney out of order, and after the dispute escalated, security officers escorted the attorney from the hearing room. Following the hearing, Fauci's legal team said he had exercised a constitutional right available to every witness appearing before Congress. Blumenthal also praised Fauci's decades of public service, telling the committee, "Dr Fauci has saved lives."