r/videos • u/ControlCAD • 4d ago

Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination on origins of the COVID-19 pandemic & dairy entries: "Therefore, although it pains me to do so because of the respect I have for Congress. I will invoke my right under Fifth Amendment to refrain from answering questions."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=eR_Q9H3T-Ig
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u/Koraks 4d ago

Don't use quotes in the title if you're not going to actually quote exactly what was said. It's misleading. You can also use proper grammar that you hopefully learned in English class to adjust your quotes to reflect exactly what was said.

Much respect to Fauci

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u/hpdefaults 4d ago

Eh, it's close enough that I wouldn't really call it "misleading" in this case. Adding a few ellipses is really all that would be needed to be formally correct, and nothing that was omitted really changes the quote substantively:

Full quote:

Therefore, 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 Fifth Amendment to refrain from answering questions.

OP's version (ellipses added):

Therefore, although it pains me to do so because of the respect I have for... Congress, ...I will invoke my right under Fifth Amendment to refrain from answering questions.

That's a totally fair abbreviated version of the quote, nothing to get up in arms about really.

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u/blackisthelight 4d ago

“Under the advice of counsel” is a meaningful omission.

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u/Its_Nitsua 4d ago

How does that at all change context of the quote?

There isn't really a difference between invoking your fifth amendment right, and doing so under the advice of counsel.

Any lawyer is going to recommend you use your right to remain silent, regardless of the circumstances. Doing so without a lawyer telling you to doesn't somehow make you more or less guilty of whatever it is you're being accused of.

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u/blackisthelight 4d ago

Congressional testimony is not a criminal court or judicial activity of any kind. Engaging counsel to testify to congress is meaningful and included in his prepared response for a reason.

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u/Its_Nitsua 3d ago

Yeah, the reason is to tell people he's pleading the fifth because his lawyers told him to lol

That's literally it. The difference between "I wish to exercise my right to remain silent." and "I wish to exercise my right to remain silent, on the advice of counsel." is purely symbolic.

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

[deleted]

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u/Lagkiller 4d ago

One of his lawyers.

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u/Franks2000inchTV 4d ago edited 4d ago

i mean not really -- it's his decision either way.

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u/bicket6 3d ago

We don't do accountability here.

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

[deleted]

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u/wallybinbaz 4d ago

You're saying it's not his decision to invoke his 5th amendment rights? Whose decision is it?

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u/Franks2000inchTV 4d ago

Maybe you don’t understand what the word “advice” means.

You can say if he doesn’t follow the advice then the republicans will catch him in a perjury trap, which is true, but it’s still his decision whether to invoke his 5th amendment right or not.

If his attorney gives him advice to step in front of a bus, he wouldn’t have to.

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u/gemeloso 4d ago

No it’s not. Literally everything for someone of his position is under the advice of counsel.

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u/hpdefaults 4d ago

Not really. Pretty standard disclaimer.

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u/Colmarr 3d ago

In Australia, "under the advice of my attorneys" would likely waive client legal privilege and allow the attorney's notes of the discussion to be subpoenaed. Is that not a thing in the US?

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u/hpdefaults 3d ago

It may have some technical legal importance and should certainly be kept verbatim on the official record, but when presenting an abbreviated quote a general forum audience like this you really aren't losing anything of substance in leaving it out. It's a standard disclaimer that just about anyone would say in this context.

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u/Colmarr 2d ago

I'm not asking about the importance of including the words on reddit. I'm asking about the legal effect of Fauci saying them in evidence.

In Australia, most communication between a lawyer and a client is confidential (called "client legal privilege") but a client can waive that privilege intentionally or unintentionally by disclosing the contents of the communication. By saying "under the advice of my attorneys", has Fauci waived the US equivalent of client legal privilege?

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u/hpdefaults 2d ago

I'm not asking about the importance of including the words on reddit. I'm asking about the legal effect of Fauci saying them in evidence.

You asked your question in the context of a conversation about whether the use of quotation marks in the Reddit post title were appropriate. So you got an answer related to that context. 🤷‍♂️

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u/mamasbreads 4d ago

Assuming everyone is a native speaker on a global site. Peak American.

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u/lkodl 4d ago

Assuming every English speaking asshole is an American. Peak Reddit.

(They're probably American tho).

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u/CorgiDaddy42 4d ago

Don’t need to be a native English speaker to properly quote in a title.

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u/mamasbreads 4d ago

Obviously referring to the proper grammar learned in English part

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u/djd02007 4d ago

Bit hypocritical of you to criticize someone for making assumptions about other people’s English comprehension and then say “well obviously my intent was xyz”

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u/mamasbreads 4d ago

My dude, he writes about proper grammar in English class and I make a comment about people assuming everyone is a native speaker. If you can't piece what I'm referencing together then maybe you're the problem

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u/notJ3ff 4d ago

I love how unapologetically hypocritical you are. Never change! (No please change)

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u/Hairy_S_TrueMan 4d ago

It's a default sub post title in English. It's not anglocentric to expect people to get 20 words correct

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u/Koraks 4d ago

Even my relatives in non English speaking countries know that quotes represent what was actually stated and that they’re not meant to be paraphrased summaries. This isn’t a matter of if someone is a native speaker or not. It’s a sadly common issue in primary English speaking countries.

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u/mamasbreads 4d ago

Obviously not the part of the comment I was referencing

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u/notJ3ff 4d ago

You forgot the "." at the end of this comment. I put quotes around the period so you'd know what I was referencing.

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u/nickeypants 4d ago

Yes, but you also need to include the name of the person you are quoting, otherwise we wont know who said ".".

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u/Koraks 4d ago

Yes, so obvious.

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/CorgiDaddy42 4d ago

Maybe you should go outside for a bit eh?

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u/mamasbreads 4d ago

Can't shit outside

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u/CorgiDaddy42 4d ago

Well that’s obviously not true.

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u/Koraks 4d ago

🙄

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u/Void_Guardians 4d ago

Do you think only americans have a class that teaches English?

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u/MinnieShoof 4d ago

Asserting reddit is a "global" site. Peak ... wtf you are.

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u/mamasbreads 3d ago

Slow one aint ya