House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has issued a stark warning to Dr. Anthony Fauci: the presidential pardon he received from former President Joe Biden does not cover his upcoming testimony before Congress. The former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is scheduled to appear before a Senate panel on Wednesday, following the release of his COVID-19 era diary entries by Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
“Americans are still reaping the consequences of Dr. Fauci’s actions,” Comer told Fox News Digital in an interview published Tuesday. “Biden’s pardon doesn’t cover Dr. Fauci’s testimony this week, and if he continues to lie, he must be held accountable.”
Fauci was among those granted last-minute pardons by Biden just hours before President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Biden framed the move as a way to protect public servants, also pardoning officials who investigated the January 6, 2021, insurrection. But Comer argued the pardon was a preemptive shield. “We now know why President Biden gave a blanket pardon to Dr. Fauci,” he said. “While obsessing about his own fame, Dr. Fauci wasn’t truthful with the American people about the origins of COVID and advised schools to be closed.”
The diary entries, spanning hundreds of pages, offer a window into Fauci’s early thinking during the pandemic. On January 26, 2020, he wrote, “We know the market was not the source, it was the amplifier. Having said that, somewhere the virus jumped from animals to humans.” That note challenges the narrative that the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China, was the direct origin of SARS-CoV-2, aligning with the theory that the virus may have leaked from a nearby lab.
The entries also reveal Fauci’s behind-the-scenes role in shaping lockdown policies. On January 15, 2020, he met with then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) and Ann O’Leary, then chief of staff to California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), advising both to close schools, bars, and restaurants. Those decisions remain a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over the pandemic response.
Comer’s warning sets the stage for what promises to be a contentious hearing. Senator Rand Paul, who has long been a critic of Fauci, released the diary entries as part of his investigation into the pandemic’s origins. Paul’s probe has focused on whether Fauci knew the wet market was not the primary source of the outbreak, a claim that gains weight from the diary entry.
Fauci’s testimony will also be scrutinized for any contradictions with his past statements. The released diaries have already fueled tensions between Fauci and former President Trump, who dismissed Fauci as “tired” after the leaks. The hearing is expected to delve into Fauci’s advice on school closures, which Comer and other Republicans argue caused lasting harm to children.
The political stakes are high. With the Biden pardon limiting legal exposure, the hearing becomes a test of Fauci’s credibility rather than a potential perjury trap. Still, Comer’s warning signals that Republicans are prepared to pursue accountability through other means, including potential contempt proceedings if they believe Fauci is not truthful.
As Fauci prepares to answer questions, the released diary entries ensure that the hearing will be more than a routine oversight session. They provide a detailed record of his early pandemic actions and thoughts, offering fresh ammunition for critics and a chance for Fauci to defend his legacy.
