Rand Paul Accuses Fauci of Illegally Using Biden’s Autopen Pardon

Dr. Anthony Fauci is back in the political crosshairs—this time not for science, but for allegedly receiving a secret presidential pardon in Joe Biden’s final days, signed by autopen, not by the president himself.

On Monday, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) confirmed he has filed a criminal referral to the Department of Justice, asking for an investigation into whether Fauci’s “autopen pardon” was even legal.

“This isn’t just about Fauci,” Paul said. “It’s about the integrity of the presidential pardon process.”

The controversy centers on an exposé by The New York Times, which claims that Biden’s Chief of Staff Jeff Zients authorized a flurry of last-minute pardons—including one for Fauci—using a mechanical signature device, rather than Biden’s personal approval.

One leaked internal email allegedly reads:

“I authorize the use of the autopen for the execution of all of the following pardons.”

Among the other recipients? Former January 6 Committee members, including Liz Cheney.

Republicans argue this sets a dangerous precedent, allowing key political figures to escape legal scrutiny without direct presidential involvement—especially given Biden’s recent cognitive struggles and sudden withdrawal from the 2024 race.

Former President Donald Trump didn’t hold back, calling the whole affair “a disgrace” and hinting at a future legal challenge to all pardons issued mechanically.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. added fuel to the fire, saying:

“If Fauci did nothing wrong, he should decline the pardon. But you know he won’t.”

For his part, Fauci denies all wrongdoing, saying:

“I have committed no crime. But these attacks are putting immense pressure on my family.”

Yet this isn’t the only reason Republicans are after him.

• Internal NIH emails suggest efforts to dodge FOIA transparency laws.

• A $5 million book deal post-retirement sparked ethics concerns.

• And Fauci is still under scrutiny for his alleged role in downplaying the Wuhan lab-leak theory during the pandemic’s early days.

Critics say this pardon controversy is just the final straw.

Legal scholars remain split. While autopen signatures are technically allowed, especially in routine matters, using them for high-profile pardons during a lame-duck period raises serious constitutional questions.

Now, with a criminal referral officially filed, all eyes turn to Attorney General Pam Bondi and whether the DOJ will act.

One thing’s for sure: this won’t be the last we hear of the Fauci-Biden autopen scandal.