CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey has joined a coalition of state attorneys general in an investigation into Dr. Anthony Fauci’s role in the COVID-19 pandemic response.
The coalition, led by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, says it is demanding accountability for alleged mismanagement, misleading statements and suppression of scientific debate.
In a February 5 letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the group of Republican attorneys general commend ongoing Congressional efforts to uncover misconduct and request state-level cooperation in pursuing any violations of state laws.
Louisiana AG Liz Murrill also is part of the coalition.
“I’ve joined my colleagues in requesting information on Dr. Fauci’s role in the COVID-19 response,” Murrill said. “His shocking pardon by Joe Biden does not prohibit any state-level investigation or legal proceedings. Louisiana will follow the evidence.”
The letter follows the release of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic’s final report, which details widespread failures and potential misconduct by high-ranking government officials, including Fauci. The report highlights misleading public statements regarding COVID-19’s origins, mismanagement of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and efforts to suppress scientific discussions about vaccine risks.
Among the key findings from the Congressional Report, according to the coalition of Republican AGs, are:
* Origins of COVID-19 – Evidence suggests Dr. Fauci worked to discredit the “lab leak” theory despite mounting evidence supporting it.
* Misleading Congress on NIH Funding – Dr. Fauci allegedly provided false testimony regarding NIH-funded gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
* NIH Oversight Failures – The NIH reportedly mismanaged taxpayer funds by failing to properly oversee grants to EcoHealth Alliance, which funneled funding to the Wuhan lab.
* Suppression of Scientific Dissent – Prominent scientists who raised concerns about vaccine risks were allegedly silenced, limiting public awareness of potential side effects.
“President Biden’s blanket pardon of Dr. Fauci is a shameful attempt to prevent accountability,” Wilson said. “If any of these findings indicate violations of state laws, we are fully prepared to take appropriate action to ensure justice is served.”
Former President Joe Biden issued a pardon for Fauci, shielding him from federal prosecution for any offenses committed during his tenure. However, the attorneys general assert this federal pardon does not prevent state-level legal action.
The coalition has requested that Congress provide it with any relevant findings that could lead to state investigations and potential prosecutions. The AGs reaffirm their commitment to upholding public trust, ensuring transparency, and preventing similar failures in future public health crises.
The attorneys general urge Congressional leaders to continue their investigative efforts and ensure that all responsible parties are held accountable at both federal and state levels.
In one of his final acts as president, Biden pardoned Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of the House committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol in an extraordinary use of executive power to guard against potential “revenge” by President Donald Trump’s administration. Biden said he did so after Trump warned of an enemies list filled with those who had crossed him politically.
“The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense,” Biden said in a statement. “Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.”
In addition to McCuskey and Murrill, others joining Wilson's coalition are the AGs of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.