'Security!' Furious Rand Paul has Fauci lawyer forcefully removed from hearing
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) had Dr. Anthony Fauci's attorney physically removed from a Senate hearing Wednesday after the lawyer defied his order to leave the witness table.
Fauci appeared before Paul's Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee after being subpoenaed by the Kentucky Republican.
Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment — the constitutional right against self-incrimination — and refused to answer a single question.
Paul had asked whether Fauci had changed his view on gain-of-function research, the practice of enhancing viruses in a lab to study how they might spread or cause disease. Fauci wouldn't bite.
"On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution," Fauci told the panel.
"There will be repercussions to your refusal to testify today," Paul shot back.
Then Paul turned his attention to Fauci's attorney, David Schertler, who was seated at the witness table despite being told to sit in the row behind it, NBC News reported.
"You're not recognized! If you are unruly, you will be removed from the proceeding! You are not recognized, sir! Sir, you are not recognized. You are not recognized! Security!" Paul shouted.
"You were told not to sit at the table. You insist on sitting at the table, and we told you you would not be recognized," Paul continued.
"Would you behave this way in a courtroom? No! Because the judge would put you in jail! I can't do that today, but I can have you escorted from the premises," he added.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), the committee's ranking Democrat, pushed back.
"Mr. Chairman, I'd like to hear what the attorney has to say," Peters said.
"He is not recognized by the committee or the chair. If he speaks again, he will be removed from the room!" Paul fired back.
Schertler spoke again.
"This is the way Anthony Fauci wants to be remembered — for a lawyer not listening to the rules. That's the way you want to be remembered, and that's what you're going to do. You are not recognized, sir! Security, please remove him from the room!" Paul declared.
Security escorted Schertler from the room.