Dr. Anthony Fauci has broken his silence just hours after being pardoned by outgoing President Joe Biden in one of his final acts as commander in chief.
The former head of the National Institute of Allergy Infectious Diseases spoke to CNN's Dana Bash during the network's coverage of President Donald Trump's inauguration to express his gratitude to Biden.
While Fauci said he “greatly appreciates” the pardon, he reiterated that he committed no crimes while overseeing the United States' response to the COVID pandemic.
'If [Biden] said, we have done nothing wrong, but the baseless accusations and threats are real to me and my family,” Fauci told Bash.
Trump's base has blamed the 84-year-old doctor for strict COVID-19 restrictions including social distancing, mask-wearing and strict vaccine mandates that have led to members of the armed forces being forcibly fired.
Fauci is also accused of lying to Congress that the US sent money to fund gain-of-function research at the laboratory in Wuhan, China, where the virus is believed to have originated and from which it leaked.
He testified at a May 2021 Senate hearing that the NIAID “has never and has not funded gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.”
But emails revealed that Fauci, NIH head Dr. Francis Collins, and Dr. Peter Daszak, head of the company that distributed grants to the WIV, EcoHealth Alliance in February 2020 acknowledged that scientists at Wuhan University were working on gain-of-function experiments to study bat viruses that adapted to human infections prior to the outbreak in Wuhan.
Dr. Anthony Fauci has broken his silence hours after being pardoned by outgoing President Joe Biden, expressing his gratitude while insisting he did nothing wrong
Conservatives and those opposed to COVID-19 restrictions blame Fauci for spreading social distancing, mask-wearing, closing schools and mandating vaccinations
Biden pardoned Fauci and members of the January 6 Committee in his final act as president before leaving the White House on Monday
In one email, Fauci even admitted to concerns that COVID may have been genetically engineered, which were exacerbated by the fact that gain-of-function research was taking place in Wuhan before the pandemic.
Dr. Fauci, whose pardon dates back to 2014, has since claimed he used a different definition of GOF during his Senate confirmation hearing.
Still, the NIH's own definition of gain-of-function notes that the research could be used “to increase the pathogenicity or transmissibility of potential pandemic pathogens.”
A meticulous one 520-page report from the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic also concluded that “Dr. Fauci's testimony was misleading, to say the least.”
If the Justice Department had decided to pursue criminal charges against Fauci, prosecutors would have had to prove that the doctor made a false statement and knew it was false.
They would also have had to prove that Fauci intended to deceive the members of Congress he was testifying for, rather than making an innocent mistake.
Still, it is unlikely that Fauci would have served any prison time. He has no criminal record and since he is a prominent public health official, politics and public scrutiny should be taken into account in his sentencing.
And while the stated penalty is five years in prison on the misdemeanor charge, the actual penalties depend on numerous factors. A sentence on the lower end would be more likely, partly because of his age.
Fauci is accused of lying under oath to Congress about directing US funding for gain-of-function research at China's Wuhan lab, where the coronavirus is believed to have been developed and leaked
It is believed that the COVID-19 virus was developed and deliberately leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. In the photo: Chinese virologist Shi Shengli in the P4 laboratory in Wuhan
Almost immediately after Biden signed the pardon, conservatives vowed to bring Fauci to Congress to answer questions about his response to the pandemic.
“If there was ever any doubt about who bears responsibility for the COVID pandemic, Biden's pardon of Fauci seals the deal forever,” said Senator Rand Paul, who previously referred the doctor to the DOJ for prosecution.
“As chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I will not rest until the entire truth of the cover-up is exposed,” the Kentucky Republican continued. “Fauci's pardon will only serve as a means to pierce the veil of deceit.”
'Shameful! Anthony Fauci will go down in history as the first government scientist to be preemptively pardoned for a crime.”
Many X users also accused Fauci of murder while railing against the pardon.
“Anthony Fauci was pardoned by Joe Biden because he is guilty of murder,” anti-transgender advocate Riley Gaines wrote. 'That's it. That's the tweet.'
Conservatives criticized Biden for the pardon as he left the Oval Office
In another tweet, she noted, “Ask yourself: Why would Joe Biden pardon Fauci if he wasn't a criminal who should be locked up for his lies, negligence, and greed that killed innocent Americans? Biden already went out in shame and disgrace, but this is a new low.'
Another pro-MAGA account with 3.4 million followers wrote: “Biden's pardon for Fauci is his worst yet. He deserves a life sentence.”
“Fauci is the most prolific American serial killer of the 21st century,” podcaster Eric Matheny wrote on X. “He is neither a hero nor a respected man of science. He funded the creation of COVID, knew about its origins in a lab, and lied to the American people.”
“Of course Biden will pardon him,” he concluded.
But Biden defended his decision to grant pardons not only to Fauci but also to all nine members of the Jan. 6 Commission before leaving office Monday morning.
“Our nation depends on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy. But alarmingly, civil servants have been exposed to constant threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties,” he said.
“That is why I am exercising my authority under the Constitution to denounce Gen. Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the members of Congress and staff who served on the Select Committee, and the U.S. Capitol and pardon DC Metropolitan police officers. testified before the Select Committee,” the President announced.
“The granting of this pardon should not be construed as an admission that any individual has engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any crime,” he continued.
“Our nation owes these officials a debt of gratitude for their tireless service to our country.”
