WATCH: GOP split over Rand Paul’s DOJ strategy in Fauci contempt push

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Senators discuss what could come next as the contempt vote against former White House COVID adviser Anthony Fauci is underway, sharing possibilities of a court battle and procedural hurdles ahead. (Credit: Nicholas Ballasy for Fox News Digital) Republican senators debated Sen. Rand Paul's, R-Ky., plan to send a criminal contempt referral against former White House COVID advisor Anthony Fauci directly to the Department of Justice, raising questions about the legal viability of the effort and the procedural path forward. Paul, the leader of the push, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that he was confident the votes would be there to move forward with holding Fauci in contempt of Congress, and that his next plan is to move forward with sending the referral directly over to the Justice Department. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said his office has already begun