Carl Cannon said Thursday on the RealClearPolitics podcast that Sen. Rand Paul has good reason to be angry at Dr. Anthony Fauci over how he responded to questions about the origins of COVID-19 and gain-of-function research, but warned that an attempt to prosecute him may only strengthen his ability to present himself as a Trump-era martyr because of President Biden’s blanket pardon. Bevan said the problem is that even if the Justice Department moves against Fauci, the pardon may make the effort pointless. Otherwise, it’s just going to be an exercise where Tony Fauci gets indicted, and then they’ll have the case thrown out because of the pardon, Tom Bevan said. And he’ll be able to do what all these folks do, which is go before the cameras and play the victim – which he absolutely, most certainly is not. I don’t blame Rand Paul for being upset with Fauci, personally upset, Cannon said. There’s now pretty clear evidence that this gain-of-function research was conducted in the Wuhan lab under conditions that it wouldn’t have been conducted in this country. They didn’t have the right protocols. The United States was paying for it, and the entire apparatus of health care in this country just repeatedly lied about it, shut down discussion, and engaged in what Tom said, a cover-up.

Watch: Rand Paul And Dr. Fauci Call Each Other Liars About Gain-Of-Function Research At Wuhan Lab Watch: Dr. Anthony Fauci: “The NIH Did Not Fund Gain-of-Function Research At The Wuhan Institute Of Virology” Watch: Sen. Rand Paul: Fauci Began “Elaborate Coverup” Of Wuhan Lab Leak In January 2020 For His Own “Self Interest” Watch: Fauci: Rand Paul Is “Stoking The Crazies” And Lying About Me

In Rand Paul’s case, in real time, he sensed this and asked Tony Fauci about it at these hearings, Cannon said. Fauci said flatly that he did not fund gain-of-function research in answer to Paul, and ridiculed Paul and attacked him. He said he didn’t know what he was talking about, called him a liar, made it personal. The press, the legacy media, all took the side of Fauci and described Rand Paul as a clown and ignoramus, he added. And Paul, who is not – he was right. I think this is righteous anger, in my opinion. But Cannon said Biden’s pardon changes the legal reality, whether or not it changes the moral one. Having said that, this pardon was preemptive, and it was complete, and it included exactly this behavior, Cannon said. And if Todd Blanche and the Justice Department do what Rand Paul is asking them to do, they will make themselves look bad. He cannot be charged with these crimes. “If this is sort of an end run around the pardon power, I don’t think it’s healthy,” he said. “It’s turning the pardon power on its head, issuing a preemptive blanket pardon for people while they were public officials in office!” Bevan said. “That is absurd.” “That’s not how it was intended,” Cannon allowed. The unanswered questions remain. What did U.S. officials know about the Wuhan lab’s research? What was funded? Why was it hidden? Why were dissenting scientists and lawmakers dismissed as cranks? And why did Biden believe Fauci needed a pardon at all? But would making Dr. Fauci into a martyr give us any of the answers? Below you can find a vast library of their years of conflict over the issue:
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