Pardon for Fauci Raises Questions
Anthony Fauci, who previously directed the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently received a controversial pardon from former President Joe Biden just before his resignation. This pardon, described as “complete and unconditional,” relates to potential federal crimes dating back to early 2014, a time when the Obama administration had apparently stopped funding certain risky virus research.
Dr. Richard H. Ebright, a molecular biologist at Rutgers University and a vocal critic of Fauci’s involvement with gain-of-function research, suggested that Fauci’s need for protection stemmed from serious concerns—specifically, that mishandling a contagious pathogen could lead to millions of deaths and be connected to the pandemic’s origins, which has incurred staggering global costs.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Fauci’s pardon was signed using an automated device, a method typical for rapid pardons issued during Biden’s final days in office. However, questions remain about the validity of this autopen signature and its implications for the legitimacy of Fauci’s pardon.
Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky has called on the Department of Justice to revisit the criminal referral regarding Fauci. His request follows a lackluster defense of Biden’s decision-making by the New York Times, including discussions about the use of the autopen for last-minute pardons.
“Perjury is a crime,” Paul emphasized, echoing his previous statements about Fauci’s transparency to Congress.
During a Senate hearing in 2021, Paul challenged Fauci’s prior claims about funding for research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, stating that Fauci had previously said the NIH had never funded gain-of-function research there, even though evidence suggests otherwise. Paul pointed out that research conducted at that institute fits the definition of gain-of-function studies, which the NIH had suspended funding for from 2014 to 2017.
When given the chance to amend his earlier comments, Fauci remained steadfast, stating, “I have never lied before Congress and I will not retract that statement,” while also claiming that the research referenced in a relevant paper was not, in fact, gain-of-function research.
Following this exchange, Paul called on the DOJ to investigate Fauci based on the testimony provided during Senate hearings. He reiterated that the studies at the Wuhan lab, funded by the NIH, do meet the criteria for classified gain-of-function research.
The EcoHealth Alliance, a recipient of a particular NIH grant for research, has come under scrutiny as well, linked to Peter Daszak, who has faced allegations related to the Wuhan laboratory’s research activities. In 2023, a House subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic began looking into Fauci’s statements to Congress, especially as new evidence emerged regarding NIH funding related to the Wuhan Institute.
In light of these developments, doubts have cast over the circumstances surrounding Fauci’s pardon, which was issued around Biden’s inauguration time. Emails released to investigators also raised flags concerning the authenticity of the pardon, particularly in relation to Biden’s directives and the role of his aides in executing the pardon.
