The Senate panel investigating the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic has obtained a copy of Dr. Anthony S. Fauci’s cellphone data. The development arrives just before a scheduled vote on whether to hold the former top infectious disease official in contempt of Congress.
The committee is set to vote Thursday on the contempt resolution. The action stems from Dr. Fauci’s refusal to answer certain questions during a recent hearing. Lawmakers have sought the phone records as part of their broader probe into the origins of Covid-19 and the government’s messaging on the virus.
The acquisition of the data marks a significant step in the committee’s months-long effort. It provides investigators with direct access to communications from a period when Dr. Fauci served as the chief medical adviser to the White House. The specific contents of the phone data have not been publicly detailed.
Dr. Fauci has maintained that his testimony was within the bounds of legal and ethical guidelines. His legal team has argued that some of the questions posed by the panel were outside the scope of the committee’s mandate. The contempt charge is a procedural measure that could lead to a criminal referral.
The vote on Thursday will determine whether the full Senate will consider the matter. If approved, it would mark a rare rebuke of a public health official who became a central figure during the pandemic. The committee’s chairman has stated that the phone data could clarify conflicting statements made under oath.
Legal experts note that obtaining a cellphone copy alone does not guarantee the committee will access all messages. Encrypted or deleted content may remain unavailable to investigators, potentially slowing the review process. The timeline for analyzing the data has not been disclosed.
This is not the first time the committee has escalated its tactics. Earlier this year, it subpoenaed records from federal health agencies regarding internal communications. The new development underscores the increasingly contentious nature of the investigation, which has drawn criticism from both political parties over its scope and methods.
Dr. Fauci has not yet released a public response to the acquisition of the phone data. His representatives have indicated that they are reviewing their legal options. The committee is expected to release a statement following Thursday’s vote, outlining the next steps in the process.
