The chapter has turned on Joe Biden’s Presidency. But he didn’t go out without controversy.
That’s why Megyn Kelly exploded on Joe Biden for this unbelievable last executive decision he made in office.
Megyn Kelly Slams Biden’s Pardons and Their Legal Implications on The Megyn Kelly Show
On Monday, SiriusXM’s Megyn Kelly took aim at former President Joe Biden’s series of last-minute pardons, which she described as “egregious” during a segment of The Megyn Kelly Show. The pardons, which were issued on Biden’s final day in office, have sparked significant controversy, especially concerning the individuals who were granted clemency. Kelly specifically highlighted how the pardons could potentially leave those individuals exposed to state-level prosecutions, despite their federal pardons.
Biden issued a wide-ranging set of pardons, with some of them being announced mere minutes before Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. These pardons included individuals such as former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, former members of the January 6th Select Committee, and even Dr. Anthony Fauci, whose pardon Kelly pointed out dates back to 2014.
Kelly took issue with Fauci’s pardon, stating, “Let’s go to the pardons because this is just egregious. Everybody under the sun, I mean, the J6 committee members, his entire family, right? Mark Milley and Dr. Fauci. By the way, the pardons go back, especially Fauci, go back to 2014.” She continued, “It starts in 2014 forward. What the hell was he doing in 2014? It’s because he funded gain of function research. It’s because he was behind the problem that caused the damn pandemic.”
The controversial nature of Fauci’s pardon stems from his involvement in gain-of-function research, which has been a contentious issue ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kelly criticized Fauci’s role, particularly in relation to his funding of research that some believe contributed to the emergence of the virus. She also addressed the broader legal implications of the pardons, questioning whether the pardons would be effective if the recipients did not formally accept them. “There’s a question about whether it’s valid if they don’t accept. I mean, there’s a legal debate on whether you must say I accept. I think most lawyers say, yeah, you have to say I accept it in order for it to be valid for you,” Kelly remarked.
Kelly’s main criticism, however, centered on what she perceives as a lack of accountability for Fauci, who she claims lied repeatedly to Congress. She referenced the ongoing efforts by Republican lawmakers, such as Senator Rand Paul, who have accused Fauci of misleading Congress about the origins of the COVID-19 virus and his role in its funding. “The Fauci one is the one that has me most ticked off. Because I really do think Fauci lied repeatedly to Congress,” Kelly said.
Never forget when Rand Paul had Anthony Fauci LITERALLY shaking while exposing his Gain of Function research in China through the NIH. pic.twitter.com/lO1OFDhh8l
— Gain of Fauci (@DschlopesIsBack) December 29, 2024
Despite Kelly’s frustration with the pardons, she acknowledged that there has been a lack of “smoking gun evidence” directly linking Fauci to the origins of the COVID-19 virus. However, Kelly emphasized that Fauci’s involvement in gain-of-function research remains a key concern. “He worked on funded gain of function research. It would be wonderful to get more information on Fauci’s involvement under the Trump administration,” she stated.
A guest on Kelly’s show added another important perspective on the matter, pointing out that while the pardons may shield individuals from federal prosecution, they do not prevent them from being compelled to testify or facing legal consequences at the state level. “So that’s the silver lining. They all have to testify fully. They cannot plead the Fifth,” the guest explained. “By the way, it doesn’t stop any investigations whatsoever, or civil lawsuits. You know what else it doesn’t stop? Or state lawsuits. State prosecutions.”
Kelly further elaborated on this, drawing a comparison between the situation faced by Fauci and others who were pardoned and the challenges former President Trump faced when he received pardons during his administration. “You can be prosecuted by the state, a federal pardon does not — that was Trump’s problem, remember?” Kelly said. “We were saying like he could pardon himself, but only for the federal crimes, not for those state prosecutions in New York or in Georgia. Well, guess what, Dr. Fauci and J6 committee members and General Milley, you’re all in the same position.”
The legal limitations of the pardons have become a focal point of discussion, particularly after the release of a report in May 2024 by the House Oversight Committee. The report revealed that Dr. Fauci’s former advisor, David Morens, had suggested that Fauci use a private email address to conduct government business, a detail uncovered through emails obtained by the committee. These revelations have fueled further speculation about Fauci’s actions and potential legal exposure.
Additionally, during his testimony before the House Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in January 2024, Fauci faced intense scrutiny from Republicans, particularly regarding his handling of the COVID-19 response. Fauci was pressed about an audio recording from 2020 in which he discussed pushing vaccinations on Americans, specifically targeting those who had ideological objections to the vaccine. In response, Fauci attempted to clarify his statement, but it did little to quell the criticism from lawmakers such as Representative Rich McCormick of Georgia, who called out Fauci for his controversial comments.
While the pardons granted by Biden may have provided a sense of immunity at the federal level, the ongoing investigations, potential civil lawsuits, and state-level prosecutions are expected to keep the spotlight on individuals like Dr. Fauci, Mark Milley, and members of the January 6th Committee for the foreseeable future. For Kelly and many others, the issue is far from settled, and the calls for accountability continue to grow louder.
The Conservative Column will bring you any breaking news regarding the new Trump administration.
