A coalition of 17 state attorneys general has launched an investigation into Dr. Anthony Fauci’s role in the U.S. response to COVID-19, despite the sweeping pardon issued by former President Joe Biden. Attorney General Alan Wilson is leading the effort, which seeks to determine whether Fauci’s actions violated state laws.
The attorneys general sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, requesting access to any relevant findings from congressional investigations. “As state Attorneys General, we possess the authority to address violations of state law or breaches of public trust,” the letter stated.
The investigation follows the release of a December 2024 report by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. The report raised concerns about Fauci’s handling of gain-of-function research funding at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and his involvement in suppressing the lab leak theory.
Fauci has been accused of misleading Congress about the National Institutes of Health’s funding of research in Wuhan. Lawmakers previously called for criminal charges, but Biden’s pardon shielded Fauci from federal prosecution. Biden praised Fauci as a “dedicated public servant” and credited him with managing past public health crises, including HIV/AIDS and Ebola.
Despite the federal pardon, the attorneys general argue that it does not prevent state investigations. “President Biden’s blanket pardon of Dr. Fauci is a shameful attempt to prevent accountability,” Wilson stated. The coalition has vowed to pursue legal action if state laws were broken.
Among those joining the effort are attorneys general from Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri, and several other states. They have pledged to investigate any wrongdoing that falls under their jurisdiction.
The state-level probe is expected to review federal findings and determine whether Fauci’s actions warrant prosecution under state laws.
