Former US health adviser Anthony Fauci refused to answer questions about the origins of the coronavirus during a congressional hearing, invoking his Fifth Amendment rights. Republican committee chairman Rand Paul accused Fauci of evading accountability over NIH-funded research linked to a Wuhan lab, while Democrats called the inquiry a political witch-hunt. The hearing followed revelations from Fauci's pandemic diary, which detailed his global fame and media scrutiny. Paul threatened legal action for Fauci's refusal to testify, with potential contempt charges looming. Fauci's lawyer was ejected from the session after attempting to speak on his behalf, highlighting the intense partisan tensions. The inquiry focuses on whether government-funded 'gain of function' research contributed to the pandemic, despite Fauci's claims that the studied viruses were genetically distinct from SARS-CoV-2. Biden had previously pardoned Fauci for official misconduct but not criminal contempt charges. The hearing underscores ongoing political battles over pandemic response and scientific accountability.