美国前首席医学顾问安东尼·福奇在共和党领导的参议院委员会听证会上援引美国宪法第五修正案，拒绝回答关于新冠疫情起源的问题[1][2]。福奇表示："虽然这样做让我感到难受，但在我的律师建议下，我将援引宪法第五修正案的权利来拒绝回答你们的问题"[1]。参议院主席兰德·保罗曾公开福奇超过1000页的个人日记[2]，并在听证会上指控福奇的日记记录与其公开发表的言论相矛盾[1]。
福奇在听证会上表示，保罗公开其日记并推动将其起诉的意图是他拒绝作证的主要原因[1]。保罗随后威胁称："违反法律妨碍国会调查。你今天拒绝作证将面临后果"[2]。听证会期间，福奇的律师被赶出听证室[2]。委员会随后宣布将投票决定是否对福奇进行藐视国会指控[2]。
根据公开的日记条目，福奇在2020年2月写道医生们对病毒来源没有"完全同意"[1]。他后来在日记中表示他"几乎确信该病毒从物种跳跃自然进化而来，尽管……我对实验室泄露的可能性保持开放的态度"[1]。此外，美国国立卫生研究院多年来向EcoHealth Alliance提供资助，用于与中国实验室进行冠状病毒"功能获得"研究[2]。拜登在2025年下台前对福奇自2014年以来在官方职位上可能犯下的任何罪行进行了预先赦免[2]。
Former U.S. health official Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment to refuse answering questions about COVID-19's origins during a Republican-led Senate committee hearing.[1][2] "Although it is uncomfortable to do so, on the advice of my counsel, I am invoking my right under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to decline to answer your questions," Fauci stated.[1] The refusal came as Senator Rand Paul released over 1,000 pages of Fauci's personal diary entries from the pandemic period, accusing him of maintaining double standards while defending government-funded coronavirus research in Wuhan.[2]
Paul claimed Fauci's diary contradicted his public statements asserting the virus originated naturally.[1] Fauci's February 2020 diary entry noted doctors had no "complete agreement" on the virus's source,[1] while a later entry stated he was "almost certain the virus jumped species naturally," though he remained "open to the possibility of a lab leak."[1] Fauci contended that Paul's intent to publicize his diary and push for his prosecution was the primary reason for his refusal to testify.[1] During the contentious hearing, Fauci's lawyer was removed from the room,[2] and Paul threatened consequences for his non-testimony, warning of potential obstruction of Congress charges.[2] The committee indicated it would vote on whether to pursue contempt of Congress charges against Fauci.[2] President Biden granted Fauci a preemptive pardon before leaving office in 2025 for any crimes committed in his official capacity since 2014.[2]