Summarised by Centrist
US Senator Rand Paul has renewed efforts to pursue criminal charges against Dr Anthony Fauci, accusing the former public health official of lying to Congress about the origins of COVID and receiving a preemptive pardon signed not by hand, but with an autopen.
Paul’s move follows revelations that Fauci received a preemptive pardon from President Joe Biden.
“If the President didn’t authorise this pardon personally, then the Department has a duty to investigate,” Paul posted on X, announcing a formal criminal referral to the Department of Justice.
Biden has since confirmed that he approved categories of recipients for clemency during his final months in office, allowing pardons to be processed in bulk. He acknowledged that not all individual names, including Fauci’s, were reviewed directly, and the autopen was used even when he was in Washington.
Constitutional scholars note that courts have upheld the use of autopen signatures on official documents, including pardons. Still, groups like the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project argue that the process raises legitimate concerns about validity when applied to high-profile clemency cases like Fauci’s.
Critics argue the move raises questions about presidential accountability and transparency. President Donald Trump called it “one of the biggest scandals in 50–100 years,” suggesting Biden “knew nothing about what he was signing.”
Fauci, who has consistently denied misleading Congress, is facing a renewed subpoena threat as Senate Republicans expand their probe into gain-of-function research. Legal experts say the challenge will hinge on whether the Justice Department enforces any subpoenas or pursues contempt.
