But the hearing quickly became a letdown for Paul and Republicans on Wednesday. The former NIAID head repeatedly took the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer questions from both Republicans and Democrats.

While Joe Biden issued a preemptive pardon to Fauci at the end of his presidency, citing concerns about “unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions” by the incoming Trump administration, that pardon would not shield Fauci from any alleged crimes committed after it was issued — including perjury before Congress.