Senate subcommittee obtains copy of Dr. Fauci's former HHS iPhone

The Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., received a copy of Dr. Anthony Fauci's iPhone that was in use during his tenure at the Department of Health and Human Services, a spokesperson for the subcommittee said. The phone was transferred from HHS to the Senate panel, though it is not yet clear whether investigators have accessed its contents.

The acquisition follows a Wall Street Journal report and comes as the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee considers whether to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt of Congress. The committee is also reviewing more than 1,000 pages of Fauci's personal diary that HHS recently provided.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who chairs the related hearing, has subpoenaed Fauci to testify about alleged funding of risky gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China. A source close to Paul's office indicated that Paul also possesses the phone.

During the hearing, Dr. Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, stating, "Although it pains me to do so because of the respect I have for the legislative branch of government and my decades-long record of cooperating with Congress under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions."

Sen. Paul warned that the court may need to decide whether a presidential pardon provides complete immunity, adding that Fauci could face further consequences for declining to comment.