There’s nothing inherently wrong with invoking the Fifth Amendment. The perception that anyone who pleads the Fifth to protect themselves from self-incrimination is only hiding guilt is wrong. Innocent people are often intimidated or tricked by those in power into implicating themselves. Others might get nervous under oath and worry about misspeaking under pressure. 

Former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci, who appeared before the Senate committee investigating the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is not one of those people.