Washington DC, July 29 -- Former US Chief Medical Advisor Dr Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment during a Republican-led Senate hearing on Wednesday, declining to respond to queries regarding his oversight of the federal COVID-19 strategy after being subpoenaed to testify.

Fauci, who directed the American pandemic response, stated that he was acting on legal counsel and characterised the decision as difficult. His refusal to provide testimony swiftly intensified friction in an already polarised political confrontation concerning the origins and management of the coronavirus outbreak.

The proceedings were convened at the request of Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has persistently accused Fauci of misinforming Congress...