Fauci’s Attorney Removed from Senate Hearing After Defying Chair’s Orders

A contentious moment unfolded at the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday when attorney David Schertler was escorted from the chamber after repeatedly defying Sen. Rand Paul’s directives to remain silent. Schertler, one of several lawyers accompanying former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci, persisted in speaking despite explicit warnings that he would not be recognized during the proceedings.

Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, grew increasingly stern with Schertler after the attorney continued interjecting despite being told to sit in a back row and refrain from comment. “You are not recognized, you’re not recognized. If you are unruly, you will be removed from the proceeding,” Paul said early in the exchange, which escalated when Schertler remained seated at the table beside Fauci.

The Kentucky senator criticized the attorney’s conduct, drawing comparisons to courtroom decorum. “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,” Paul stated before ultimately requesting security remove Schertler from the room.

Ranking Democrat Gary Peters briefly objected to the removal, but Paul countered that the hearing was Fauci’s testimony, not an opportunity for his legal team to participate. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment when responding to Paul’s questions during the session, which took place as Senate Republicans noted that a preemptive pardon issued by former President Joe Biden would not shield Fauci from perjury charges if he provided false statements to Congress.