If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you’ve probably seen some pretty wild headlines about Anthony Fauci. Some say he’s "on the run," others claim he’s about to face a "tribunal," and then there’s the big one: Did Biden pardon Dr. Fauci? The short answer? Yes. But the way it happened—and why it happened—is way more complicated than a simple "get out of jail free" card. Honestly, it was one of the most controversial moves in the final hours of the Biden administration.
The Eleventh-Hour Move
It was January 20, 2025. Literally hours before Donald Trump took the oath of office, Joe Biden sat down and signed a stack of papers that sent shockwaves through D.C. He issued what’s called a preemptive pardon for Dr. Anthony Fauci.
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Now, usually, when we think of a pardon, we think of someone sitting in a orange jumpsuit getting released. But a preemptive pardon is different. Fauci hadn't been charged with a crime. He hadn't been convicted of anything. This was a "just in case" shield.
Biden didn't just stop with Fauci, either. He cleared a whole group of people who had been in the crosshairs of the "MAGA" movement, including General Mark Milley and several members of the January 6th Committee.
Why Pardon Someone Who Hasn't Been Charged?
You might be wondering: If he didn't do anything wrong, why does he need a pardon? That's exactly what the critics asked. But from Biden’s perspective, this wasn't about guilt. It was about protection. For years, Fauci had been the face of COVID-19 mandates, and for just as long, he’d been the target of intense GOP ire. Senator Rand Paul and others had been calling for investigations into the origins of COVID and the NIH’s funding of research in Wuhan.
Biden’s logic was basically this: The incoming administration has promised "retribution." He believed Fauci would be buried in legal fees and politically motivated prosecutions the second he left office. By granting a "full and unconditional" pardon for anything related to his service between 2014 and 2025, Biden effectively cut the legs out from under any future federal criminal case.
The Legal Shield (And Its Limits)
So, what does this actually cover? The pardon is broad. It covers "any offenses against the United States" that Fauci might have committed during his tenure as Director of the NIAID and Chief Medical Advisor.
- Federal vs. State: It only covers federal crimes. If a state-level prosecutor somehow found a way to bring charges (which is unlikely given the nature of his work), the pardon wouldn't touch that.
- Civil Lawsuits: This is a big one. A pardon doesn't stop people from suing you in civil court. If someone tried to sue Fauci for "damages" related to lockdowns, the pardon doesn't stop the trial, though it does keep him out of federal prison.
- Congressional Testimony: It doesn't stop Congress from calling him to testify. He can still be subpoenaed. He just can't be prosecuted for the underlying actions he's talking about.
Fauci’s Reaction: "I Committed No Crime"
Fauci’s own response was kinda awkward. He put out a statement saying he was grateful for the action, but he doubled down on the fact that he’s innocent. "Let me be perfectly clear: I have committed no crime," he said.
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He basically framed the pardon as a shield against "politically motivated harassment." To him, the pardon wasn't an admission of guilt; it was a fire extinguisher for a house he expected Trump to set on fire.
The Backlash Was Instant
You can imagine how this went over with the other side. Rand Paul was all over X (formerly Twitter) saying the pardon "seals the deal" on Fauci’s responsibility for the pandemic. The argument from the right is that if you're innocent, you don't need a preemptive pardon.
They saw it as the ultimate "deep state" protection move. It also created a bit of a precedent. While presidents have pardoned family members before (like Biden did with Hunter), pardoning a high-ranking government scientist who hasn't even been indicted yet is pretty rare. It’s the kind of thing that makes legal scholars stay up at night arguing.
What Happens Now?
Since we’re now in 2026, we’ve seen how this played out. The pardon worked. While there have been plenty of "hearings" and "reports" released by the current administration, there have been zero federal indictments against Fauci. The legal wall Biden built held up.
Fauci has mostly retreated from the public eye. He still does the occasional interview, but without the threat of a DOJ investigation hanging over his head, the political heat has simmered down from a boil to a low whistle.
The Bottom Line
Did Biden pardon Dr. Fauci? Yes, he did. It happened on January 20, 2025. It was a preemptive move designed to block the Trump administration from pursuing criminal charges related to the pandemic response.
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Next Steps for You:
If you're trying to keep track of these late-term pardons, the best thing to do is look at the Department of Justice Office of the Pardon Attorney. They keep the official "Clemency Recipient" lists. Also, keep an eye on the House Oversight Committee; they are still releasing documents regarding the "Proximal Origin" paper and NIH grants, even if the criminal path is currently blocked.