Fifth Amendment: History and Recent High-Profile Uses

The Fifth Amendment, part of the Bill of Rights, protects against self-incrimination. Recent high-profile invocations include Dr. Anthony Fauci before a Senate committee and Donald Trump in a civil deposition. Rooted in English common law, it has expanded to state and civil cases, with different rules for negative inferences. The amendment remains a cultural touchstone in the U.S., often referenced as 'pleading the fifth.'