Republicans on Wednesday threatened to block the nomination of Chad F. Brown to a federal judgeship, accusing him of making disparaging remarks about the U.S. Constitution. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a member of the Judiciary Committee, said that Brown had previously said the Constitution was ""the worst, most dangerous document ever written."" Brown denied making the statement, which he said was taken out of context and mischaracterized.

In other news, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination on Wednesday, refusing to answer questions from House Republicans about his role in the government’s COVID-19 response. Fauci appeared before the House Oversight Committee, which has been investigating the origins of the virus and the government’s handling of the pandemic. He stated he would not answer questions that could potentially incriminate him.

The committee chairman, Representative James R. Comer of Kentucky, expressed frustration with Fauci’s refusal to cooperate. The hearing is part of a broader Republican effort to scrutinize the Biden administration’s pandemic policies and Fauci’s leadership at the NIAID. Fauci’s decision to invoke the Fifth Amendment highlights the deep political divisions surrounding the pandemic and its aftermath.