Radio host Charlamagne tha God stated this week that Dr. Anthony Fauci's repeated use of the Fifth Amendment during a Senate hearing was "suspicious" if the former NIAID director had committed no wrongdoing.
"I never understood why Dr. Fauci needed a pardon if there was no crime committed or nothing was done wrong," Charlamagne said on "The Breakfast Club." "And when you think of every conspiracy theorist that accused him of everything from creating or covering up the virus, the profiting from mandates and vaccines, it does look suspicious that he won’t answer questions."
Charlamagne's co-hosts on the show offered a defense, suggesting Fauci acted on legal counsel's advice and lacked malicious intent. However, Charlamagne countered by questioning the necessity of the pardon itself. "I just feel like no one can trap you if you’re not doing anything wrong, you know what I’m saying? I’ll sit down and answer any question if I know that I’m clean."
His co-hosts posited that President Biden issued the pardon, which covered all actions between January 1, 2014, and January 19, 2025, out of concern that an incoming administration might prosecute Fauci and others. Charlamagne acknowledged this possibility but remarked that it would not deter critics.
"I know these conspiracy theories happy this morning. I'm like, I know they sitting around like, 'I told y'all we tried to tell y'all,'" Charlamagne said.
President Biden granted Fauci an unconditional pardon for all actions taken within the specified timeframe. This pardon aimed to shield Fauci from prosecution for actions under investigation by the committee, leaving only the potential for charges if he lied under oath.
Charlamagne's comments come as legal experts debate the validity of Fauci's Fifth Amendment claims following the broad pardon. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced his intention to pursue contempt proceedings against Fauci after his refusal to answer questions during the hearing.