Dr. Anthony Fauci just set what might be a new world record for saying the same sentence over and over again. The former top federal health official invoked his Fifth Amendment rights more than 100 times during a Senate hearing about COVID-19, essentially turning himself into a human broken record with a law degree. And now, as The American Tribune reported, Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier is launching a state investigation into Fauci, because apparently one level of government grilling just wasn't enough.
Here's the beautiful irony of the whole situation. Former President Biden handed Fauci a sweeping preemptive federal pardon during his last hours in office back in January 2025, claiming it was necessary to shield him from "politically motivated prosecutions." That pardon covers potential federal offenses tied to his government work. But here's the thing about presidential pardons: they only work at the federal level. State investigations? Civil lawsuits? New charges like perjury? Those are all still very much on the table. It's like buying an umbrella that only covers your left shoulder.
Fauci was hauled before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee after Chairman Rand Paul of Kentucky subpoenaed him. Paul has been on Fauci's case for years regarding the federal government's role in funding coronavirus research. The hearing covered the origins of the virus, how officials responded to the outbreak, and whether government employees concealed or destroyed records related to those topics.
Right out of the gate, Fauci announced he would not be answering anything. "Under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions," he declared. And then he proceeded to repeat that sentiment to every single question, even the softballs designed to figure out just how far his silence would extend. Spoiler alert: it extended everywhere.
Uthmeier jumped on social media after the hearing to announce his probe. "Fauci's lack of candor to Congress is unbelievable," the AG wrote. "My office is launching an investigation into Dr. Fauci. It's past time we get the truth of what happened during COVID." He hasn't yet specified which Florida statutes are involved or whether subpoenas have gone out. No state charges have been filed at this point.
Fauci's legal team argued he still faces potential exposure from state proceedings and possible perjury charges if he gave inaccurate testimony, which is why the Fifth Amendment invocations kept flowing like a broken faucet (pun absolutely intended).
Florida Senators Ashley Moody and Rick Scott both tried their luck questioning him about pandemic response decisions, private communications, and whether officials used personal email accounts to dodge public record requirements. They got the same brick wall everyone else did.
Paul wasn't exactly thrilled, warning that the committee would vote on holding Fauci in contempt of Congress. "There will be repercussions to your refusal to testify today," Paul declared. So now Fauci is potentially facing a contempt vote AND a state investigation. That pardon is looking less like a shield and more like a participation trophy.
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