“Under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the 5th Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions,” Dr Fauci said. He has repeatedly blamed Dr Fauci for millions of deaths related to the outbreak and said that the infectious-disease expert should be imprisoned. Dr Fauci was pre-emptively pardoned by President Joe Biden before he left office, with Mr Biden saying that Dr Fauci and other officials receiving preemptive pardons had not committed wrongdoing but were at risk from the incoming Trump administration. Senator Paul, who chairs the Senate government oversight committee holding Wednesday’s hearing, has insisted that scrutiny on Dr Fauci is necessary. “These conspiracy theories have led to a five-year period of harassment and threats of violence directed at Dr. Fauci and his family.”