Former president Joe Biden extended a preemptive pardon to Dr Anthony Fauci, his former chief medical officer who led the White House’s Covid-19 response. Fauci accepted the pardon and asserted that he committed no crime though he was subject to politically motivated threats of investigation and prosecution. Republicans hold Fauci responsible for the pandemic and accused him of withholding information about research in China that reportedly developed Covid-19.
Fauci faced public anger because of the mask mandate and the school shutdowns during the pandemic though many believe pardoning him was a disservice to him as it indicated that he did something wrong.
“There is absolutely no basis for these threats. Let me be perfectly clear: I have committed no crime and there are no possible grounds for any allegation or threat of criminal investigation or prosecution of me,” Fauci said reacting to the pardon. “The fact is, however, that the mere articulation of these baseless threats, and the potential that they will be acted upon, create immeasurable and intolerable distress for me and my family.”
Two months after the controversial pardon which was extended to not only Fauci but many others, President Donald Trump said Joe Biden’s last-minute pardons are null and void as they were signed by autopen — the device auth mechanically produces a person’s signatures. Autope is generally used for signing multiple copies of the same thing as the president does not have the time to sign each paper, but recent reports revealed that Biden used autopen for many important documents including the pardons.
Trump questioned whether Biden was even aware of what he was signing. , whether he was explained what he was signing. “The “Pardons” that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen. In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them! The necessary Pardoning Documents were not explained to, or approved by, Biden. He knew nothing about them, and the people that did may have committed a crime,” Trump said.
“Therefore, those on the Unselect Committee, who destroyed and deleted ALL evidence obtained during their two year Witch Hunt of me, and many other innocent people, should fully understand that they are subject to investigation at the highest level. The fact is, they were probably responsible for the Documents that were signed on their behalf without the knowledge or consent of the Worst President in the History of our Country, Crooked Joe Biden!” Trump said.
Though Trump only mentioned those who were in the January 6 committee which would include Bennie Thompson and Liz Cheney, Biden also pardoned his son Hunter Biden and Dr Fauci. If Dr Fauci’s pardon is also withdrawn, he may face an investigation into his role during the pandemic.