Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith says Anthony Fauci should have responded to questions during a contentious Senate hearing earlier this week rather than repeatedly invoking the Fifth Amendment. In comments made Thursday, Smith argued that Fauci, as the public-facing figure of the U.S. COVID-19 response, owed lawmakers and the public an explanation for the questions he faced. Smith’s remarks reference Fauci’s use of the Fifth Amendment multiple times during the hearing, framing it as an issue of whether a witness should appear before Congress if he plans not to answer. The Hill reports that Smith criticized the approach as effectively avoiding substantive engagement with lawmakers’ inquiries.
Other coverage from Yahoo News repeats the same core point and wording, emphasizing Smith’s contention that Fauci cannot participate in a Capitol Hill setting and repeatedly plead the Fifth. Both sources present Smith’s commentary as opinion rather than a new factual development about the hearing itself, focusing on how he interprets Fauci’s decision to withhold answers.
