Anthony Fauci Addresses Biden's Last-Minute Pardon: 'I Have Committed No Crime'

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former head of the NIH, thanked outgoing President Joe Biden for preemptively pardoning him ahead of a potential criminal investigation during the Trump administration, but emphasized that he has not committed any crimes.

"I really truly appreciate the action President Biden has taken today on my behalf. Let me be perfectly clear, Jon, I have committed no crime, you know that, and there are no possible grounds for any allegation or threat of criminal investigation or prosecution of me," Fauci told ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl.

He went on to say that he is grateful because the chance that he would indeed be investigated under the Trump administration would have created "immeasurable and intolerable distress on me and my family."

Fauci has been heavily criticized by Trump and many of his allies over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially measures limiting movement and contact, such as quarantines and the use of facemask, aimed at preventing the spreading of the virus.

Fauci addressed a House panel in January 2024, saying that he never influenced research regarding the virus's origins, calling the accusations "absolutely false and simply preposterous."

Testifying before the House Oversight and Accountability Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, Dr. Fauci reiterated his belief that the pandemic most likely resulted from animal-to-human transmission.

"I've also been very, very clear, and said multiple times, that I don't think the concept of there being a lab (leak) is inherently a conspiracy theory," he said, adding, "What is conspiracy is the kind of distortions of that particular subject, like it was a lab leak, and I was parachuted into the CIA like Jason Bourne and told the CIA that they should really not be talking about a lab leak."

Others pardoned by Biden are retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of the Jan. 6 committee who investigated Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has called Trump a fascist and heavily criticized him for his attempts at overturning the result of the 2020 presidential election.

Cheney and Kinzinger have been targeted over her involvement in the Jan.6 committee that investigated Trump's efforts to overturn the election. "Honestly, they should go to jail," he said during an interview with NBC in December. Biden gave Cheney the Presidential Citizens Medal—the second-highest civilian honor in the United States— for leading the investigation.

Biden quickly came out to defend his decision, saying that "public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties."

"I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing. Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families. Even when individuals have done nothing wrong—and in fact have done the right thing—and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances," adds a passage of Biden's statement on the matter.