Joe Biden’s last-minute spree of presidential pardons has already sparked outrage and raised eyebrows, but one name stands out in particular: Dr. Anthony Fauci. Biden’s handlers—because let’s not pretend Biden is running the show—granted a sweeping, preemptive pardon to the former NIH official, covering any and all potential COVID-related offenses dating back to 2014. This blanket pardon has shielded Fauci from immediate federal prosecution, but the story is far from over. Fauci might be protected from certain legal consequences, but he is not entirely out of the woods. Not by a long shot. Let’s unpack what this pardon does and doesn’t do. First, it effectively insulates Fauci from federal charges related to his role in the COVID-19 pandemic, including the allegations that he perjured himself during sworn testimony about the NIH’s funding of gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China. This research—a controversial practice that enhances the transmissibility or lethality of pathogens—has long been at the center of suspicions regarding the origins of the COVID-19 virus. Fauci repeatedly denied NIH involvement in such research, but investigative reporting and whistleblowers have since suggested otherwise. The pardon conveniently backdates to 2014, coinciding with the U.S. ban on gain-of-function research, a period when Fauci’s NIH is accused of outsourcing the work to China. Coincidence? Hardly. However, as RealClearInvestigations’ Paul D. Thacker pointed out, the pardon is not a free pass for Fauci to lie under oath in future proceedings. Enter Senator Rand Paul, a physician who has been one of Fauci’s fiercest critics. Paul, along with Senator Ron Johnson and House Republican investigators, has vowed to continue probing Fauci’s role in the origins of COVID-19, gain-of-function research, and the government’s pandemic response. If Fauci is hauled back before a Senate or House committee—and let’s hope he is—he will no longer be able to hide behind the Fifth Amendment, as the pardon nullifies his risk of self-incrimination for past actions. Any falsehoods in future testimony could open the door to perjury charges or contempt of Congress. And then there’s the matter of state-level accountability. A presidential pardon only applies to federal crimes, leaving the door wide open for state attorneys general to take action. Florida, a state that has emerged as a leader in challenging the COVID-19 narrative, could prove to be fertile ground for such a case. The Vires Law Group and the National American Renaissance Movement have already filed petitions urging Florida’s attorney general to investigate Fauci for a laundry list of alleged crimes, including fraud, domestic terrorism, biological weapons violations, and even treason. While no charges have been filed as of yet, the push for state-level accountability is gaining traction. And remember, Florida isn’t the only state where such efforts could unfold. Beyond the legal jeopardy, Fauci’s reputation is facing an irreversible decline. Once propped up as the “face of science,” Fauci has become a polarizing figure, with mounting evidence that his pandemic guidance was riddled with contradictions, mismanagement, and questionable motives. From flip-flopping on masks to suppressing dissenting voices within the scientific community, Fauci’s legacy is being scrutinized in ways the media once worked overtime to shield. And the American public is waking up to the realization that Fauci’s actions during the pandemic may have been more about protecting his own interests—and those of his allies—than about serving the public good. The gain-of-function debate, in particular, demands greater scrutiny. This type of research doesn’t just walk the line between science and bioterrorism—it obliterates it. Fauci’s alleged role in funding research that could have unleashed a global pandemic isn’t just a bureaucratic misstep; it’s a potential national security threat. Biological weapons, unlike nuclear or chemical ones, are self-spreading and self-perpetuating, making them uniquely dangerous. And if the NIH under Fauci funneled U.S. taxpayer dollars into research that played even a partial role in the pandemic, the implications are staggering. It’s also worth noting the timing of the pardon. Biden’s handlers didn’t just shield Fauci—they shielded themselves. Fauci wasn’t just a scientist; he was a key player in justifying and enforcing the Biden administration’s heavy-handed lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and other policies that Americans are now increasingly questioning. Pardoning Fauci helps ensure that the full story of what happened during the pandemic might never come to light—at least, that’s what they’re hoping. But if Speaker Mike Johnson, Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson, and other Republicans have their way, the truth will come out. The GOP is already moving forward with new investigations into COVID-19 origins, government overreach during the pandemic, and the January 6 Select Committee’s misdeeds. Fauci may have been pardoned for past actions, but his political and legal troubles are far from over.