A reintroduced bill is targeting Dr. Anthony Fauci for invoking his Fifth Amendment right by barring federal government workers from refusing to answer certain questions from Congress.
Rep. Rich McCormick’s STOP the SWAMP Act, first introduced in 2024, authorizes lawmakers to refer witnesses who unlawfully withhold information to the Justice Department.
“If you can hide from Congress, you shouldn’t be able to work for the federal government,” the Georgia Republican said in a statement. “Congress has a constitutional duty to conduct oversight, and federal employees have a duty to tell the truth. Full stop. If someone lies under oath or refuses to cooperate with a lawful investigation, there should be consequences. Public service is a privilege, and no one is above the law.”
The bill’s revival follows Dr. Fauci’s testimony before a Senate committee on Wednesday, in which he pleaded the Fifth over 100 times during a contentious hearing.
He was facing scrutiny from Republicans, who had asked him to testify before the GOP-led committee to investigate his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its origins and pandemic-era public health policies.
He said that he invoked his Fifth Amendment right under his counsel’s advice, with Democrats dubbing the hearing a politically motivated perjury trap.
Dr. Fauci and his legal team denied any allegations of wrongdoing. He was granted a preemptive pardon by former President Biden to shield the retired infectious disease expert from potential prosecution.
Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, said his committee would begin the process of holding Dr. Fauci in contempt of Congress.
Mr. Biden’s pardon covers only federal offenses, not state charges. He can still be prosecuted for perjury if he lies under oath, pardon notwithstanding — central to why Republicans argue he has no valid basis to plead the Fifth.
Mr. McCormick’s office introduced the STOP the SWAMP Act three times, prompted by what many called evasive testimony by then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle after the 2024 Trump assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.
