‘I Have Committed No Crime’: An Appreciative Anthony Fauci Responds to Biden’s Preemptive Pardon
(Photo by Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images)
Dr. Anthony Fauci expressed gratitude to President Joe Biden for the preemptive pardon extended to him but emphasized that he has done nothing wrong.
Biden’s pardons, issued on Monday, covered not just Fauci, but also retired Gen. Mark Milley as well as members of and witness to the congressional select committee that investigated the January 6 Capitol riot. In his statement, the president framed the move as a necessary protection against politically motivated retribution under the incoming Trump administration.
“Our nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy,” Biden said. “Yet alarmingly, public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties.”
Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has been a frequent target of political criticism in recent years as the face of the federal government response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking with ABC News’ chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl, Fauci addressed Biden’s decision, said:
I really truly appreciate the action President Biden has taken today on my behalf. Let me be perfectly clear, Jon, I have committed no crime, you know that, and there are no possible grounds for any allegation or threat of criminal investigation or prosecution of me.
Fauci went on to acknowledge that the mere possibility of prosecution has placed an “immeasurable and intolerable distress” on him and his family.
Gen. Mark Milley, who also received a pre-emptive pardon, responded with appreciation, stating that he does not wish to spend his remaining years fighting politically charged legal battles.
“My family and I are deeply grateful for the president’s action today. After forty-three years of faithful service in uniform to our nation, protecting and defending the constitution, I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights,” Milley said.
