Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said on Wednesday that his office would launch an investigation into former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Anthony Fauci.

“Fauci’s lack of candor to Congress is unbelievable,” Uthmeier said.

“My office is launching an investigation into Dr. Fauci. It’s past time we get the truth of what happened during COVID,” he added.

Uthmeier’s announcement follows Fauci’s heated Senate committee hearing, where he invoked the Fifth Amendment dozens of times.

Did Dr. Fauci Just ILLEGALLY Plead The 5th Amendment Dozens of Times?

Florida Politics has more:

Fauci appeared before the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to field questions from the Republican-led panel on his influence over social distancing and mask policies implemented during the 2020 outbreak. But under intense questioning from Senators — especially U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, the Committee Chair — Fauci chose not to answer directly.

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Fauci declined to answer more than 50 times, injecting new drama into partisan divides that have festered for years about the origins and handling of the pandemic. Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment, which protects Americans from self-incrimination.

Uthmeier posted on his official X account shortly after Fauci’s testimony, saying he wants to open an investigation into Florida’s COVID policies during the pandemic.

"I had to litigate to open back up entire industries and win in court. Everything we did to keep Washington out of our lives in Florida which made Florida the free state," said Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL), who served as attorney general of Florida at the height of COVID-19.

"That was really on trial today and he couldn't answer a question because he took the 5th every time," she added.

Watch below:

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) eventually said the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee would vote next week on a resolution certifying Fauci for contempt of Congress.

JUST IN: Rand Paul Pushes For Contempt of Congress Charges Against Dr. Fauci — Carries Up To One Year Prison Time

Forbes noted:

After making a brief opening statement in which he accused Paul of an “unhinged obsession with me,” Fauci did not answer any questions during the hearing, citing his Fifth Amendment right.

Paul warned Fauci during the hearing it is “against the law to obstruct an investigation of Congress” and suggested he could face “repercussions” for refusing to testify.

Paul argued Fauci’s pardon by former President Joe Biden precludes him from invoking the Fifth Amendment, but acknowledged whether he has that right is a “legal question that the courts may have to decide.”

 

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