Washington — Former U.S. infectious disease official Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a contentious Senate hearing focused on U.S.-funded coronavirus research in China and the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. The hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday quickly became divided along party lines. “Under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions,” Fauci said. Paul questioned Fauci about federal funding for coronavirus research in Wuhan, the laboratory-origin theory, gain-of-function research, government record-keeping and a presidential pardon issued to Fauci before the previous administration left office. Democratic members of the committee criticized the hearing as politically motivated and said it diverted attention from current public health priorities.