Dr. Anthony Fauci is facing a new round of scrutiny as attorneys general from 17 states investigate his handling of the COVID-19 crisis. The effort, led by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, continues despite a federal pardon issued by former President Joe Biden.
The coalition has requested documents from Congress that could help determine whether Fauci’s actions violated state laws. In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, they argued that Biden’s pardon does not protect Fauci from state investigations.
A House subcommittee report, released in December 2024, found that Fauci misled Congress about federal funding for research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The report also suggests that Fauci attempted to discredit the lab leak theory, despite evidence supporting it.
Lawmakers had previously called for Fauci to face criminal charges over his testimony regarding National Institutes of Health funding. However, Biden stepped in during his final hours in office, issuing a sweeping pardon that covered any federal offenses Fauci may have committed.
Wilson called the pardon a “shameful attempt” to block accountability, stating that his office and others will pursue justice if any violations of state law are found. The attorneys general are asking Congress for access to investigative materials to aid their probe.
Among the states involved in the investigation are Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Florida. The attorneys general say they are committed to ensuring transparency and holding public officials accountable.
