Senate committee set to vote on holding Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress - US politics live

Key Points:

• The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led by Republican Senator Rand Paul, is set to vote on holding Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for invoking the Fifth Amendment 111 times during a recent hearing; Paul argues the vote concerns Fauci's refusal to answer questions despite a presidential pardon, not his past opinions or policies.
• Legal experts debate the extent of the Fifth Amendment after a presidential pardon, with some contending it no longer protects against federal prosecution, potentially allowing Congress to hold Fauci in contempt, while others maintain the right persists if state prosecution threats remain.
• Emails reveal Palmer Luckey, co-founder of defense company Anduril Industries, as a major GOP fundraiser on the West Coast, organizing high-dollar events like the “Keep the Senate” fundraiser to support Republican Senate candidates, underscoring his influence in MAGA political fundraising.
• A group of 19 Democratic lawmakers accuse the Trump administration of enabling violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank by fostering a climate of impunity, urging the restoration of sanctions and independent investigations into the deaths of nine US citizens in the region since 2022.
• Experts warn that politicizing and vilifying Fauci risks harming US public health preparedness, as the focus on Fauci distracts from systemic issues like public health infrastructure cuts and misinformation, amid ongoing outbreaks of diseases including measles, Ebola, and cyclosporiasis.