Trump Reacts After Fauci Invokes Fifth Amendment 111 Times

The pardon came roughly two years after Fauci retired following nearly four decades as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and after serving as one of the nation’s most recognizable public health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While acknowledging the broad constitutional pardon power, Trump questioned whether Biden personally approved the action because of ongoing Republican concerns surrounding the former president’s use of an autopen.

“He probably didn’t sign this one,” Trump said.

“So, I can’t tell you what the law is.”

The president added that he has heard legal arguments suggesting additional documentation could become relevant if questions arise about how pardons were authorized.

“Maybe there’s something on the autopen,” Trump said.

“Other than that, the power of pardon is very powerful.”