Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on July 29, 2026, that his office is initiating an investigation into Anthony Fauci following his refusal to answer questions during a congressional hearing regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Uthmeier expressed concerns about Fauci's lack of transparency, stating, "Fauci’s lack of candor to Congress is unbelievable."
During the Senate hearing, Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination over 100 times while responding to questions from Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) about his management of COVID-19. Paul has called for a committee meeting to discuss whether Fauci should be held in contempt of Congress for his non-compliance.
Senator Paul has been investigating Fauci's connections to U.S. funding for the Wuhan research laboratory in China, where the first COVID-19 cases were reported. Recently, he released over 1,000 pages of Fauci’s records, including his diary from the pandemic.
Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has also called for Fauci to be held in contempt, arguing that Fauci cannot invoke the Fifth Amendment due to a presidential pardon issued by former President Joe Biden, which protects him from federal prosecution but does not prevent state charges. DeSantis noted that a case against Fauci would require the state attorney general or a local attorney to establish violations of state law.
Uthmeier has previously indicated he is open to pursuing state charges against Fauci related to his recommendations on social distancing, face masks, and school closures, which have faced significant criticism from Republicans. Uthmeier emphasized the need for a solid case before proceeding with any prosecution.