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Tupac Shakur murder suspect takes center stage at trial nearly 30 years after shooting shocked music world

Nearly 30 years after rapper Tupac Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas, the only person ever charged in his killing is set to go on trial.

Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 63, is scheduled to stand trial beginning Monday on a murder charge in the 1996 drive-by shooting that killed Shakur, one of hip-hop’s most influential artists.

Davis has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors do not accuse him of firing the shot, but allege he helped plan the attack and provided the gun used in the shooting.

Shakur was shot Sept. 7, 1996, while riding in a BMW driven by Death Row Records founder Marion "Suge" Knight near the Las Vegas Strip. He died six days later at age 25.

LAWYERS FOR SUSPECTED TUPAC SHAKUR KILLER CLAIM HIS WORDS WERE TWISTED, WANT HIM RELEASED FROM JAIL 

Hours before the shooting, Shakur, Knight and others were involved in a fight at the MGM Grand with Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson, Davis’ nephew and a member of the South Side Compton Crips.

Prosecutors say Davis, Anderson, Deandrae "Freaky" Smith and Terry "Bubble Up" Brown were later riding in a white Cadillac that pulled alongside Shakur’s car and opened fire.

Davis is the only one of the four still alive.

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Authorities long suspected Anderson was the gunman, although evidence presented in the case has also raised the possibility that Smith fired the shots.

No murder weapon was recovered.

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According to The Associated Press, prosecutors hope to prove that Davis called the shots in and provided the gun used in the crime. Gunfire came from the Cadillac that Davis was in, and he is one of the only people there that night who is still alive.

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Davis has acknowledged being in the Cadillac and discussed the killing in interviews and in his 2019 memoir, "Compton Street Legend." Prosecutors say those statements help establish his role in the attack.

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His attorneys, meanwhile, have argued that some of Davis’ public statements were exaggerated and have challenged whether statements he made during a 2008 police interview could be used against him.

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A Nevada judge ruled that Davis' police interview, as well as portions of his memoir, will be allowed during the trial.

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The trial is expected to last about four weeks. In November, Davis' attorneys unsuccessfully sought to dismiss the charges.

"Think of it this way: Shakur’s murder was essentially the entertainment world’s JFK assassination — endlessly dissected, mythologized, monetized — so it’s not hard to see why someone in Davis’s position might falsely place himself at the center of it all for personal gain," his attorneys said in a petition to the Nevada Supreme Court that was denied.

Shakur's legendary rap career was highlighted by more than 75 million records worldwide with hits including "California Love," "Changes" and "Dear Mama."

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for comment.

Fox News Digital's Brie Stimson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 



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Iranian hackers attacked our water systems. Here are 5 things our leaders need to do now

As tensions continue to rise between the United States and Iran, Iranian-affiliated hackers have reportedly reached into the heartland of America and targeted the systems that control a basic necessity of life: water.

More than 30 community water systems in Minnesota were targeted in a coordinated cyberattack in late July, with similar activity being identified in a handful of other states.

This should concern every American. But the most alarming part isn’t simply who may have been behind the attack. Instead, it’s how little sophistication may have been needed to pull it off in the first place.

INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE IRANIAN HACKERS ARE LIKELY BEHIND CYBERATTACK ON MINNESOTA WATER SYSTEMS: REPORT

Early indications suggest this was not some unstoppable cyberweapon that no municipality could have anticipated. Instead, the attackers appear to have targeted operational technology that is connected to the internet and exploited the kinds of fundamental security weaknesses experts have been warning about for years.

And while Iranian-affiliated hackers may have carried out this particular attack – certainly representing an escalation in the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict – the attack on Minnesota did not expose a vulnerability unknown to our nation’s leaders.

Instead, it’s further underscored the real-world consequences of weaknesses the federal government has been documenting for years.

For instance, in 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General examined 1,062 drinking-water systems serving more than 193 million citizens. It found critical or high-risk cybersecurity vulnerabilities at 97 systems serving approximately 26.6 million Americans. Another 211 systems serving more than 82.7 million people had portals that were visible from outside their networks.

OUR ENEMIES FOUND A WEAKNESS IN ESSENTIAL TECHNOLOGY. WE MUST FIX IT … FAST

Put plainly, systems serving tens of millions of Americans could be discovered from the public internet. Exploiting these access points, as the inspector general warned, presented an opportunity for hackers to disrupt services and lead to potential physical damage to water infrastructure.

That is what raises the stakes far beyond the data breach Americans have become all too accustomed to reading about.

Of course, these breaches, whether involving a retailer or a credit bureau, can expose personal information and certainly inflict serious harm. That risk should not be minimized.

An attack on a water system, however, crosses a far more dangerous threshold – from compromising data to disrupting an essential service on which human life depends. Pumps can stop operating. Water supplies can be interrupted. An entire community’s health and safety can be placed at risk.

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The scope of this challenge extends far beyond Minnesota. According to the Government Accountability Office, nearly 170,000 water and wastewater systems make up America’s water sector. Many rely on aging equipment, face workforce shortages, and operate with little capacity for dedicated cybersecurity personnel.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is further complicating matters.

This technology has helped malicious actors identify vulnerable systems, create convincing phishing messages and modify malicious software faster than ever before. There is no public evidence that AI played a role in Minnesota, but it is making cyberattacks cheaper, faster and easier to execute at scale – and it’s a threat we must not ignore.

The fortunate reality, however, is that regardless of how powerful AI might be, AI does not remain the underlying weakness. It simply enables attackers to exploit said weaknesses more efficiently.

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So where do we go from here?

The answer isn’t found in futuristic solutions while continuing to ignore the fundamentals. Instead, protecting critical infrastructure – such as water plants – must begin with five essential actions.

First, utilities must know what is connected to their networks. Every water system needs an accurate inventory of its equipment, software origins, remote-access points and third-party vendors. An organization cannot protect technology it does not know it has.

Second, every point of access must be secured. Default passwords must be eliminated, multi-factor authentication should be required and critical controls should never be exposed directly to the internet.

TRUMP THREATENS 'MAJOR MILITARY PUNISHMENT' FOR IRAN OVER FUTURE HOUTHI ATTACKS

Third, operational equipment must be separated from routine business systems. A computer used for email, internet browsing or administrative work must not provide a pathway to the pumps and other machinery necessary to control a community’s water supply.

Fourth, software must be updated routinely and promptly. Attackers often search for known vulnerabilities whose fixes have been available for months or even years. A security update that exists but was never installed offers no protection.

Lastly, critical infrastructure must control what software is permitted to run by deploying application allowlisting, also known as whitelisting, across its systems.

Most traditional cybersecurity tools are designed to identify and block programs believed to be malicious. But AI now allows attackers to create and modify malware at an extraordinary speed, producing new variations that may not resemble previously identified threats. This makes a traditional, detection-only strategy increasingly difficult to sustain.

Application allowlisting, however, reverses this model. Instead of trying to identify every possible threat, it permits only previously approved software to operate. Everything else is prevented from running by default until a system administrator can review for safety. This prevents unknown, potentially malicious software from executing inside systems Americans rely on for necessities such as water and electricity.

Taken together, these five measures would make America’s water systems – and all critical infrastructure – substantially harder to compromise. They would also move these systems away from reacting to attacks after the damage begins and toward preventing the damage in the first place.

The latest attacks in Minnesota must mark a turning point in how our nation protects its critical infrastructure. Meeting this moment will require more than acknowledging the risk; it will require action, accountability, and urgency.

Every utility operator, municipal leader and government agency responsible for these systems should immediately assess whether these five standards are being met, assign clear responsibility for correcting every deficiency and establish firm deadlines for shoring up any vulnerabilities. And where local communities lack the necessary expertise or resources, state and federal partners must help close the gap.

The danger presented by cyberattacks is no longer distant, nor is it theoretical.

America’s adversaries are actively searching for known vulnerabilities. And any action, or inaction, which allows those weaknesses to remain unresolved is a choice that only invites a more serious attack – one with potentially deadly consequences.

America was fortunate – this time. Minnesota’s water system continued serving residents despite the attack.

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But that outcome should create urgency, not complacency.

Good fortune cannot be America’s cybersecurity strategy, and leaders must take action today by closing the known security gaps before the next cyberattack puts American lives in danger.

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Michigan military exercise preparing thousands of troops for changing battlefield

Tanks fire across training grounds in northern Michigan as thousands of service members practice for a battlefield military leaders say is changing rapidly.

More than 9,000 participants from 36 states and territories and five international participants are taking part in Northern Strike 26-2, one of the nation's largest reserve-component military readiness exercises.

Northern Strike began in 2012 and is held twice a year. David Kennedy, a public affairs officer with the Michigan National Guard, said this summer’s exercise is the largest since it began.

Brig. Gen. Ravindra Wagh of the Michigan National Guard said lessons emerging from conflicts around the world are shaping how troops train.

US SAYS NORTH KOREA MISSILE LAUNCH POSES NO IMMEDIATE THREAT, 'CONSULTING CLOSELY' WITH ALLIES

"You see what's happening in Ukraine right now. You see what's happening globally with some of our other emerging conflicts that you see," Wagh said. "And I think that this is a place where you can test and innovate."

Northern Michigan gives troops access to more than 200,000 acres of land, the Great Lakes and air, space and cyber capabilities.

The exercise also brings together different military branches and international forces to practice operating alongside one another.

"We want to train with the allies and partners we're going to go to war with," Wagh said. "We want our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines to see it here. Figure it out here."

Fox News followed troops from the United Kingdom as they moved through a practice attack, one of several combat training exercises taking place during Northern Strike.

During another exercise, a crew inside a Paladin howitzer rehearsed a fire mission before moving on to live-fire training.

US ARMY OFFERING DEFENSE FIRMS 'CONCIERGE ACCESS' TO TEST WEAPONS AT MILITARY RANGES

Preparing for combat involves more than the troops on the front line. Northern Strike also puts the units responsible for keeping them supplied and supported through the same kind of training.

That includes the 445th Quartermaster Company, which runs shower and laundry operations.

"Our main goal is to provide, I would say, logistical support and really strengthen the morale of the soldiers that are out there actually doing the big booms in combat," Company Commander Captain Kelson said.

For Pfc. William Flores, whose unit is from Trenton, New Jersey, the exercise offers a chance to practice before a potential deployment.

"This is like a practice run," Flores said. "So when we do get deployed, if we do get deployed, we are ready."

Technology is also changing the training.

Nearly 90 industry partners are participating in Northern Strike, according to Wagh, allowing troops to work with developing capabilities before potentially encountering them in conflict.

Those capabilities include autonomous resupply and drones used to deliver blood by air. Other drone systems can hover over a battlefield, assess casualties and relay information so medical resources can be directed where they are needed.

FORT HOOD SOLDIERS SHIFT TO UNDERGROUND TRAINING TO PREPARE FOR BATTLEFIELD MEDICAL CARE

3D printing is also being incorporated to produce parts and adapt capabilities.

"If you would have told me a few years ago, that'll be, you know, on the front lines, but we're doing it here," Wagh said.

Wagh said the speed of change is forcing the military to innovate more quickly and use exercises like Northern Strike to test those lessons before troops encounter them in combat.

"I hope they're a little bit better, a little bit more capable," Wagh said. "We want all of our units to have a higher, more capable state of readiness."

Northern Strike 26-2 continues through Aug. 14.



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Democratic socialist Francesca Hong has former child star, OnlyFans model in senior campaign role: report

Former child actress and OnlyFans model Renee Olstead is reportedly serving in a senior role on Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong's gubernatorial campaign ahead of next week's Democratic primary.

Olstead, who also goes by Renee Faust, is serving as Hong's deputy campaign manager, according to The Heartland Post. Hong, a Democratic socialist, is among the candidates competing in next week's Democratic gubernatorial primary.

The outlet reported that Olstead has worked as a paid campaign operative since at least January. Her X bio reads "HONG 4 GOV" and links to Hong's get-out-the-vote page.

Her social media account also features photos from campaign events, and The Heartland Post reported that she has coordinated logistics for high-profile surrogates, including streamer and political commentator Hasan Piker.

FRANCESCA HONG REMARKS THANKSGIVING IS HER 'FAVORITE HOLIDAY,' ANSWERS SHE DOES NOT 'WANT TO CANCEL IT'

Fox News Digital asked Hong's campaign to confirm Olstead's title and responsibilities, when she began working for the campaign, whether she is a paid employee and her qualifications for the role. The campaign responded with a statement but did not directly address each question.

"Renee Faust is a licensed mental health clinician who has spent her career providing care to trafficking survivors," the campaign said. "Since joining the campaign in December, she has helped build the largest grassroots campaign in Wisconsin history. The right-wing politicians attacking her are the same ones who want government dictating women's health care decisions."

Olstead previously founded the Coalition for American Sex Workers (CASW – LOCAL 304), which advocates for decriminalization and other policy changes affecting sex workers.

Last year, Hong and three other state representatives presented Olstead with an official Wisconsin State Assembly citation recognizing her advocacy for sex workers' rights and her selection as "Penthouse Pet of the Year" in 2024.

CONTROVERSIAL SOCIALIST CHEF FLIP-FLOPS ON ABOLISH THE POLICE, SAYS SHE’S ‘SERIOUS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY’

The campaign did not directly respond to a separate question from Fox News Digital asking Hong to explain her decision to participate in presenting Olstead with the citation and what she intended to recognize.

Hong has also pursued legislation that would decriminalize prostitution involving adults and establish a sex workers' bill of rights.

Wisconsin Family Action, a conservative advocacy organization based in Madison, criticized Olstead's involvement in Hong's campaign.

"Wisconsinites deserve to have serious people leading the state. It is unbelievable to see that the likely Democratic nominee for governor has an active sex worker leading her campaign," Daniel Degner, president of Wisconsin Family Action, said in a statement. "Voters deserve to know whether if Hong is elected, she will elevate a porn star to leadership in her administration."

SANDERS' ANSWER WHEN ASKED IF HE WILL ENDORSE SOCIALIST HONG IN WISCONSIN SPARKS INSTANT MOCKERY: 'SAYS A LOT'

Hong has previously expressed support on social media for progressive proposals including abolishing the U.S. Senate and defunding the police, though she has recently distanced herself from some of those positions in interviews ahead of Tuesday's gubernatorial primary.

Hong faces Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, former Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan and Democratic state Sen. Kelda Roys in the primary.

Hong also faced renewed scrutiny over a since-deleted 2020 X post calling to "cancel Thanksgiving" in order to "stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed Indegenous [sic] folx and women."

She recently distanced herself from the post, telling Politico that Thanksgiving is her "favorite holiday" and that she does not want to cancel it.

"My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving," Hong told Politico Playbook. "Yep, I don't want to cancel it. I actually love it."

Fox News Digital's Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.



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Schumer said ‘Democrats support voter ID’ — then every Senate Democrat voted against GOP bill

Senate Democrats blocked a key component of the SAVE America Act that, in the past, they have supported.

During the wee hours of Saturday morning, Senate Republicans tried and failed to get Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his colleagues to back a stripped back voter ID bill amid a spree of last-minute legislative business.

But Senate Democrats, including Schumer, have for years espoused support for identification to vote. Several states with Democratic senators have voter ID laws, too.

SCHUMER, DEMOCRATS SAY THEY SUPPORT VOTER ID, THEN BLOCK GOP AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE IT

"Democrats support voter ID," Schumer said in March. "In fact, we included it, and it is included, in our Freedom to Vote legislation several years ago."

Schumer and his entire caucus voted against the bill from Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, nonetheless. Requiring identification is already the practice in 36 states. Of those, 23 require photo ID, while 13 accept another form of identification, such as a bank statement. Nine of those states have Democratic senators.

It was the last stand of the night for the Senate, which is gearing up to leave Washington, D.C., for several weeks of valuable campaign time in vulnerable incumbents’ home states.

SENATE REPUBLICANS PUSH ELECTION DAY DEADLINE FOR CALIFORNIA'S MARATHON BALLOT COUNTS

And it comes as Republicans have so far tried and failed to find a path forward for the SAVE America Act, which Democrats, along with a handful from the GOP, have blocked numerous times in a variety of configurations.

Husted’s bill would have prohibited state and local election officials from providing a ballot to vote in federal elections unless a person provided a valid form of identification.

Husted’s bill teed up a plethora of options, including an unexpired driver’s license with a photo, an unexpired state-issued ID card with a photo, a valid passport, a valid military or veteran ID with a photo or an unexpired tribal ID with a photo.

It’s also not the first time Democrats have blocked it. In March, Republicans tested their support of voter ID for the first time in a vote to attach Husted’s bill to the SAVE America Act. It failed on party lines then, too.

TRUMP KEEPS CALLING THUNE DESPITE PUBLIC FIGHT OVER SAVE AMERICA ACT

After it became clear that President Donald Trump’s top legislative priority was not going to be passed nor even considered before lawmakers exit Washington, D.C., Republicans opted to take one last crack at Democrats' resolve.

"We've got many Democrats, who have said, ‘I’m just fine with voter ID,’" Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said. "Voter ID is a major component of SAVE America, and they've said that over and over again when we had it on the floor in late February and early March."

"It was the argument that I heard from many of these people, as it was on the floor for hours and hours at a time, saying, ‘I'm okay with voter ID, don't like this,’" he continued. "So we're gonna find out where they are."

Lee has been the loudest supporter of the SAVE America Act in the Senate, pushing and prodding his colleagues on X to get on board with passing the package.

Republicans had a chance earlier in the night to begin the work of crafting a version of the SAVE America Act with a budget blueprint that, if successful, would have teed up the partyline budget reconciliation process, but were called to stand down by Trump.

Now, they don’t return until early September, just weeks out from a midterm election that could reshape the balance of power in the Senate.



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Fauci's contempt of Congress is challengeable, but not his contempt for the public

"Today I am the most famous and talked-about person in the country." Those words from the diary of Dr. Anthony Fauci are certainly true as the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs moves forward with holding him in contempt for refusing to answer over a hundred questions about his past conduct and statements as the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The contempt vote will start a process that is fraught with political and legal challenges. Even putting aside the objections to the direct referral from the Committee to the Justice Department (rather than submit the matter to a full Senate vote), there remain serious questions about whether Fauci can be held in contempt after invoking his right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment. As I have previously stated, this area is rather murky and Fauci likely has the advantage in any litigation.

At the outset, it is important to note that Fauci always faced a risk of perjury in his prior appearances. Even if immunized, a witness can always be prosecuted for false statements. Fauci is in a much stronger position today than he was in prior hearings due to the sweeping pardon he received from former President Joe Biden. Yet, he suddenly decided to remain silent when his own words came back to contradict him.

FAUCI'S NEWLY RELEASED COVID DIARIES REVEAL BIZARRE FIXATION ON FAME AS PANDEMIC DEATHS MOUNTED

Now for the legal questions.

If a witness is immunized, they can be compelled to testify. If, for example, the Senate granted Fauci immunity, there would be little question about his answering these questions as well as the ability to charge him for any false statements.

The Senate Committee is arguing that the Biden pardon had the same impact. Since Fauci cannot be prosecuted for any acts during the extended period of the pardon (going back to 2014 when the government allegedly funded "gain-of-function research). Chairman Rand Paul did an excellent job in putting this issue into sharp relief in his final set of questions by framing his inquiry as confined to the period of his pardon.

The argument is credible and, for many, compelling: since Fauci cannot be prosecuted for any conduct during the pardon period, he has no legal exposure so long as he speaks truthfully.

For Fauci, that is a question that could be highly subjective. He referred to the risk of a "perjury trap" in his opening statement. He declared, "The only conclusion I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something — anything — that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words, quote, ‘behind bars.’"

Even that statement could present a matter for litigation. Congress previously found in 2013 when high-ranking IRS leader Lois Lerner also pleaded the Fifth after giving an opening statement before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The Justice Department under the Obama administration refused to prosecute. Fauci will argue that such a general statement does not waive the privilege and that, when asked a question, he promptly and consistently invoked it.

Of course, this is the Trump administration, not the Obama Administration. Ironically, if the matter is litigated, the administration will be in the position of defending the pardon, which it has long questioned, as the result of Joe Biden's infamous autopen. The ability to hold Fauci in contempt becomes dependent on that pardon being valid.

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: WHY FAUCI'S 111 FIFTH AMENDMENT PLEAS COULD END UP BEFORE THE COURTS

The Justice Department can argue that the Supreme Court has consistently held that the mere fear of a perjury charge is insufficient to compel witnesses who are immunized, dating back to 1896 in Brown v. Walker.

Moreover, the Supreme Court has held that "anticipatory perjury" is not a basis for such a refusal to testify in cases such as United States v. Apfelbaum.

However, Fauci can cite new state investigations as unaffected by the federal pardon, as well as new questions arising outside the pardon that could theoretically pose ongoing risks of criminal prosecution.

Courts have generally adopted broad interpretations to protect the right to remain silent, a touchstone of our legal system. That is why I believe Fauci likely has the edge in any challenge.

The fact is that it is uncertain. The cases in this area remain relatively sparse, and any pardon case is highly case-specific to the confines and scope of the specific pardon.

If so, Fauci can remain silent, but that silence will remain deafening for many in this country.

The right to do something does not make it the right thing to do. Fauci, in my view, was wrong to invoke the privilege against self-incrimination even if it was his right to do so. Millions of Americans lost loved ones during the pandemic, and the United States had one of the worst records in dealing with COVID-19 in terms of costs and deaths. Fauci's diaries exposed disturbing contradictions between what he previously stated publicly and what he actually believed. Americans have a right to know the truth, and Fauci was not saying a thing, invoking the privilege 111 times.

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He will say nothing to the families who lost loved ones or the business owners ruined by now-debunked pandemic measures.

ANTHONY FAUCI'S PRIVATE DIARY AND EMAILS SHOW HE KNEW LOCKDOWNS FAILED AND PUSHED MASKS WITHOUT EVIDENCE

He will say nothing to the scientists who were canceled, blacklisted, and fired for opposing these policies. Those scientists did not get the bobbleheads and celebrity photos that Fauci celebrated in his diaries. As the mob hounded them, Fauci said nothing as he gushed about his own fame in his diary.

He will say nothing despite the protection of a presidential pardon. For that, he should be rightfully condemned. Fauci's contempt of Congress is challengeable, but his contempt for the public is undeniable.



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Rand Paul predicts Fauci contempt vote will pass, vows swift DOJ referral

Senate Republicans are readying immediate ramifications for Dr. Anthony Fauci's refusal to testify last week in the upper chamber, and the leader of the push believes the votes are there to pull it off.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and his Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs are slated to decide whether to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress for declining to answer lawmakers’ questions after being subpoenaed to testify, and, instead, invoking the Fifth Amendment on Thursday morning.

"I think there is a very good chance that we will win the vote," Paul told Fox News Digital.

RAND PAUL SEEKS CONTEMPT CHARGES AFTER FAUCI INVOKES FIFTH AMENDMENT MORE THAN 100 TIMES

And if successful, Paul wants to get the Department of Justice (DOJ) involved swiftly.

"The next step will be when we send the referral over directly to the Department of Justice," he said.

Paul unveiled the contempt resolution on Tuesday, which stipulated that once reported from committee, it would be sent to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.

The Kentucky Republican has spent years challenging Fauci, who previously served as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) director and played a major role in the country’s policy and messaging on COVID-19 during the pandemic.

WATCH: RAND PAUL SAYS THERE'S ONE THING AMERICANS HAVE NEVER HEARD FROM FAUCI

He’s charged that Fauci should be thrown in prison and sought to compel him to admit that the virus sprang from a lab leak in Wuhan, China, in connection to risky research allegedly funded under his direction.

Last week’s hearing was meant to be the ultimate battle between the two and the pinnacle of Paul’s yearslong crusade against Fauci. But that didn’t happen when Fauci, under advice from his lawyers, pleaded the Fifth Amendment well over 100 times during the hearing.

"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," Fauci said.

TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FAUCI'S HEARING: PAUL BOOTS LAWYER, MORENO ERUPTS AS CONTEMPT VOTE LOOMS

Those became the last words that the former chief medical advisor to the president uttered in the hearing beyond invoking his constitutional rights.

That prompted Paul to tee up a vote on contempt charges against him in a bid to compel Fauci to speak. The lawmaker also cast doubt on whether Fauci’s invocation of the Fifth Amendment comported with his sweeping pardon from former President Joe Biden on his way out of office.

Biden granted Fauci a full and unconditional pardon for all actions taken between Jan. 1, 2014, and Jan. 19, 2025.

"I think there's another legal question that the courts may have to decide upon, and that is whether or not a presidential pardon offers you complete immunity," Paul said as the hearing closed.

When asked to expand on the legal question looming over Fauci’s pardon, Paul declined. "It’s a good legal discussion, and we will make those legal points to DOJ in sending the referral over," Paul said.



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