The vote came after Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination more than 100 times in a hearing last week. The next steps likely set up a fight over the extent of those rights.
Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he was bypassing a full Senate vote and instead would deliver a referral for prosecution directly to the Justice Department. That means Vice President JD Vance, in his role as president of the Senate, will need to sign off on the move. It will be up to the Justice Department to decide if charges will be filed.
Tensions ran high in the hearing room as several Democrats on the committee brought up motions, some more than once, to have the resolution tabled for another time.
While lawmakers held back from an all-out shouting match, Paul accused Peters of going "on and on" in his attempts to put off the vote.
"I don't remember ever cutting you off when you were ranking member, and I've always respected your rights, and I continue to respect your rights. I would just hope that you would offer that same courtesy to us," Peters shot back.
Fauci's attorney David Schertler, who Paul kicked out of the room last week said in a statement, "Today’s partisan committee vote is a crude political stunt intended to punish Dr. Fauci for exercising his constitutional rights. The Senate should reject Senator Paul’s meritless and politically-motivated contempt resolution."
"It is shameful and wrong that Senator Paul is abusing his power by trying to weaponize the Justice Department against an honorable public servant," he added
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