There’s nothing inherently wrong with invoking the Fifth Amendment. The perception that anyone who pleads the Fifth to protect themselves from self-incrimination is only hiding guilt is wrong. Committee Democrats, incidentally, declined to rebut any Republican criticisms aimed at Fauci or speak on any of the problems of the pandemic response. Failing to get any accountability or full transparency from those who botched the COVID pandemic response only fuels more suspicion and skepticism about vaccines. And, make no mistake, avoiding accountability and transparency are the real reasons Fauci took the Fifth.