Rick Scott on Fauci contempt vote: ‘All he had to do was tell the truth’

Senate Rick Scott on Fauci contempt vote: ‘All he had to do was tell the truth’ Comments: by Finya Swai - 08/07/26 9:22 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Finya Swai - 08/07/26 9:22 AM ET Comments: Link copied

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Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) stood by a vote to refer Anthony Fauci to be held in contempt of Congress, arguing the former chief White House medical adviser could have avoided the escalation by answering lawmakers’ questions about the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We were really disappointed. We wanted to just get facts last week,” Scott told The Hill’s Batya Ungar-Sargon late Thursday on “On Balance.” “He failed to give the answers and he could have. All he had to do was tell the truth. So he was held in contempt.”

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 8-5 earlier Thursday to hold Fauci in contempt after the former official refused to answer a single question, invoking his Fifth Amendment right 111 times during his hostile Senate hearing last week.

Scott, who sits on the committee, said that Republicans had hoped to get answers from Fauci about questions that have persisted since the pandemic, including the origins of COVID-19, vaccines and the government’s handling of the crisis.

Scott pointed to Fauci’s sweeping pardon, which was granted to him by former President Biden and covers conduct from January, 2014 through January, 2025.

Scott said questions surrounding the government’s pandemic response continue to have consequences years later, pointing to Americans who remain uncertain about vaccines and a heightened distrust in the American public health care system.

“Why did he tell us to shut down our government? So many businesses shut down because of his actions. Why did he lie to us about the medicines, the vaccine? Why did he change everything?” Scott asked. “There’s so many people, my daughters with kids are saying, do I give my kids vaccines or not?”

The Florida Republican urged the Justice Department to take the contempt matter seriously. The contempt resolution, brought by committee Chair Rand Paul (R-Ky.), was referred to the Justice Department for potential prosecution.

“I hope they look at it seriously and hold him accountable for his lies,” Scott said.

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