Dr. Anthony Fauci is facing a new legal challenge as 17 state attorneys general have launched an investigation into his handling of the COVID-19 response. The effort, led by Attorney General Alan Wilson, comes in the wake of a pardon issued by former President Joe Biden, which shielded Fauci from federal prosecution.
In a letter to Congress, the attorneys general requested access to findings from prior investigations into Fauci’s role in shaping pandemic policies. They argue that Biden’s pardon does not prevent state-level prosecutions.
The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic released a report in December 2024 detailing misconduct among government health officials, including Fauci. The report accused him of working to suppress discussion of the lab leak theory, even when evidence supported it.
Fauci also came under scrutiny for his testimony before Congress, where he denied that the National Institutes of Health funded gain-of-function research in Wuhan. According to the congressional report, U.S. taxpayer funds were directed to the Wuhan Institute of Virology through grants to EcoHealth Alliance.
Biden defended his decision to pardon Fauci, calling him a “trusted expert” who helped lead the country through public health crises. However, state officials believe that legal questions remain, particularly concerning potential violations of state laws.
Attorneys general from states including Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and Missouri are participating in the effort. They have pledged to examine whether Fauci’s actions during the pandemic warrant legal consequences under state jurisdiction.
