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Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment 111 times as St. Paul mayor faces harassment probe

Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a Senate hearing, while the mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, is under investigation for alleged sexual harassment stemming from text messages to city employees.

In a heated Senate hearing, former NIH director Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right 111 times when questioned about the pandemic, gain-of-function research and related issues, prompting Republicans to consider a contempt of Congress vote. At the same time, the mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, is being investigated after a complaint that text messages she sent to municipal staff constituted sexual harassment, generating political fallout early in her tenure.

Why it matters

The cases test accountability for a former top health official and a newly elected city leader, affecting public trust in government.

In this story

Fifth Amendmentcontempt of Congresssexual harassment investigationtext messagespandemicgain-of-functionSt. Paul mayorSenate hearing