A U.S. Senate panel voted along party lines Thursday to hold former top infectious disease official Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress, escalating a long-running political battle over the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing the panel, Paul insisted that the vote focused strictly on congressional oversight authority rather than pandemic policy, stating that “Dr. Fauci faced no risk of federal prosecution,” and “All he had to do was tell the truth.” Defending his client following the committee’s decision, Fauci’s attorney, David Schertler, described the action as a “crude political stunt intended to punish Dr. Fauci for exercising his constitutional rights.” Contempt of Congress is a federal misdemeanor punishable by fines and up to 12 months in prison upon conviction.