Sen. Rand Paul Refiles Criminal Referral of Fauci to DOJ Amid Autopen Pardon Controversy

Senator Rand Paul has renewed his criminal referral of Dr. Anthony Fauci to the Department of Justice, challenging the validity of a pardon issued to Fauci by President Joe Biden using an autopen signature device. Paul alleges Fauci committed perjury by lying about NIH funding for gain-of-function research related to COVID-19 during 2021 Senate testimony and contends that the pardon does not shield Fauci from prosecution for process crimes or new charges. The controversy centers on whether Biden personally authorized the pardons, with reports indicating that Chief of Staff Jeff Zients approved them, raising questions about Biden's comprehension and involvement. Biden maintains he orally approved all pardons, dismissing claims of impropriety, while Republican lawmakers and conservative groups push for further investigation into the autopen's legality and Biden’s cognitive capacity during the clemency process. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Justice Department is under pressure to act on Paul’s referral amid broader scrutiny of the autopen pardons, despite some criticism of her recent prosecutorial decisions. Fauci denies wrongdoing and retired in 2022, but the ongoing investigations and legal challenges keep the issue in the spotlight.