Jim Acosta: Dr Anthony Fauci is "grateful" for the pardon

[Dennis Donovan]

Jim Acosta‬
@jimacosta.bsky.social‬
5m
Doctor Anthony Fauci tells me he is “grateful” for the pardon he received from the President, noting he had just received word of Biden’s decision from his attorney this morning. “It feels good and I’m grateful to the president for doing it,” Dr. Fauci said in a brief phone call.

‪Jim Acosta‬
@jimacosta.bsky.social‬
4m
Fauci pointed to the president’s statement that noted he has not committed any crimes.
“I have done nothing wrong. Certainly nothing criminal. No grounds at all,” Fauci said.

‪Jim Acosta‬‪
@jimacosta.bsky.social‬
3m
He said the Biden WH contacted him about a month ago about “the baseless threats against me” and added the president was exploring the idea of granting a preemptive pardon. “I didn’t know it was real until last night,” Fauci said.

Jim Acosta
‪@jimacosta.bsky.social‬
Fauci said he was becoming increasingly concerned for his safety and pointed to congressional hearings last year when Republican lawmakers accused him of committing crimes. Fauci added the Biden WH expressed concern about the “immeasurable stress” threats were placing on his family.
January 20, 2025 at 8:23 AM

Thank you Dr Fauci, for everything you've done for us.

Fauci said he was becoming increasingly concerned for his safety and pointed to congressional hearings last year when Republican lawmakers accused him of committing crimes. Fauci added the Biden WH expressed concern about the “immeasurable stress” threats were placing on his family.

— Jim Acosta (@jimacosta.bsky.social) 2025-01-20T13:23:03.668Z

[Irish_Dem]

1. The GOP will harass and threaten the most dedicated and important public servants.

I am glad Biden is trying to protect them.

[ITAL]

2. Just ten minutes ago

I saw one of my Republican contacts posting about how he still wanted to go after Fauci and that a pre-emptive pardon doesn't work in his case. I've seen the guy complain about Democrats, but never with anywhere the hostility he did against Fauci. It's really crazy how many people still think he's public enemy #1.

[Irish_Dem]

3. At the same time the cult adores vicious ruthless psychopaths.

Traitors, rapists, criminals, they love.

[ITAL]

6. I agree

Though to be fair, I've never really seen this particular guy praise Trump, or many Republicans period to be honest. He just loves complaining about Democrats.

Nothing gets him riled up as the medical community and especially Fauci. He still loves bringing up about how badly the country botched the pandemic...not the GOP response obviously, but in the mask mandates (didn't work), vaccines (dangerous), and considers them all criminals.

The pandemic really broke a lot of people's brains.

[Wiz Imp]

13. In other words, the guy is an idiot.

Many more Americans would have died if not for Dr. Fauci. Mask mandates provably worked to lower the spread and vaccines are not the least bit dangerous compared to the disease.

[Irish_Dem]

17. Relentless vicious PutinGOP broke many brains.

And is still doing it to this day.

[ITAL]

20. I saw more brains broken during the pandemic

Than any other 18 month period of time though. Hell, even one of my Bernie Sanders volunteer (2016 and 2020) cousins turned into a crazy anti-vaxxer during it.

[Irish_Dem]

26. It happens gradually, then suddenly.

There have been years of relentless MAGA propaganda.
Then the pandemic ramped it all up and pushed it over the edge.

I am still not ruling out that covid did some neurological damage.

I recently had a bad case of Covid and noticed some frontal lobe impairment.
My verbal filter was not working as well. I felt some cognitive slippage.

[area51]

8. The real "lawfare" the nazis whine about. n/t

[brer cat]

4. I'm glad President Biden issued the pardon.

Dr. Fauci has served our country well and didn't deserve the wrath of the fragile ego.

[True Blue American]

5. Doctor Fauci

Has fought his whole life for Health care. That AH in the whiteHouse is the one who killed 900,000 people!

[FalloutShelter]

7. Dr. Fauchi is an American hero.

[Chautauquas]

10. Absolutely

When we all were dealing with the outbreak of the Covid pandemic his leadership and knowledge were so valuable. His record of service to this country covers many years and is very impressive.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

9. To the people who wanted Fauci to suffer and have his freedom and financial life wrecked under the guise of "norms"

Fuck off.

Our new president is currently run using a $100 billion dollar personal grift and this guy should lose his retirement savings defending himself against maga nutcases? Really just fuck off.

[RedWhiteBlueIsRacist]

11. The United States has truly lost its shit.

[tman]

12. He would never have been convicted of anything anyway.

[BannonsLiver]

38. That doesn't mean he wouldn't run through his retirement funds trying to defend himself.

Trump’s lawfare shit is meant to bankrupt as much as it is to exact some kind of criminal punishment.

[Kid Berwyn]

14. Vs millions in defense attorney fees.

Litigious traitor wants to sic DoJ led by Matt Gaetz’ favorite shyster.

[allegorical oracle]

16. Tuned for about eight minutes to MJoe and the pardon was being discussed. Someone on

the panel mentioned that if someone accepts a pardon, they can't use the fifth amendment if a later congressional investigation about their "offenses" is held.

Rand Paul and Ron Johnson, it was pointed out, are claiming they intend to hold said hearings. The discussion was focused on Milley and Fauci.

If this travesty actually occurs, it's just shameful. These vile people can't cease their petty vindictiveness even though THEY EFFING WON, for Gawd's sake.

[JohnSJ]

25. The problem with these deviant rethugs, is that there is no need to take the fifth since there is NOTHING they did

illegal.

Let these jackasses call them before congress so the whole country can see what deviants they elected.

They cannot do anything against them, because they did nothing illegal.

[allegorical oracle]

35. Oh, of course. It's an effort to box them in. To make them "accountable" for doing their

damn best to help people. Repugs don't respect people like that.

[elliesmandt]

18. threats

It's a shame that such an intelligent, dedicated public servant has to suffer for trying to help the world be a better place.

[Submariner]

19. As a last act Biden should have Trump arrested for murder

Due to gross negligence and extremely incompetence on the part of the Whiner-in-chief, Trump killed 200,000+ Americans for failing at dealing with the pandemic.

Throw him in a holding cell with a jacked-up viagra junkie El Chapo until trial.

[LisaL]

21. It's a sad day when someone who did their job

has to be pardoned.

[Evolve Dammit]

22. How far we have already fallen where a career public servant M.D. NEEDS a Fucking PARDON????

[JohnSJ]

23. Absolutely. Dr. Fauci has needed to hire body guards because of these deviants, including RFK jr, whose book of lies

helped pushed the death threats against Dr. Fauci with his LIES.

[NoMoreRepugs]

24. Both parties are the same? Dr Fauci, a world class expert denigrated and

THREATENED by repugs while they laud praise and propose a fucking whackadoodle like rfk jr to head our health services.

[Joinfortmill]

27. Fauci is an Anerican hero.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

28. I read his book.

Insights of a man who dedicated his life to healing people through his work. A TRUE American hero.

[mn9driver]

29. The pardons for all of Trump's targets may not mean much.

The entire Federal government is about to fall under the control of people who have a demonstrated contempt for laws and precedents they don’t like.

What is to prevent Trump from announcing Biden’s pardons are illegitimate? What will keep the Trump DOJ from initiating actions against those who are pardoned? Precedent? Respect? Rule of law?

None of those things have a physical existence. We treat them that way by mutual agreement and everyone takes an oath to “preserve, protect and defend” the constitution. That oath means nothing to Trump. He’s proven that.

Hoping I am wrong. We’ll find out soon enough.

[viva la]

34. For that matter, SCOTUS probably gave Trump immunity

for having them kidnapped and thrown in prison without trial. "Official acts."

[walkingman]

30. We should be ashamed of ourselves. We are a declining nation.

[70sEraVet]

31. When the inmates are running the asylum, the only thing to do, is.....

protect the doctors and the staff.

[CaptainTruth]

32. But crimes don't mean anything, right? That's what Republicans seem to believe.

[viva la]

33. What does it say about Trump....

That dedicated national officials who have done nothing wrong have to be pre-emptively pardoned to keep Trump from abusing the justice system against them.
I just remember Andrew McCabe, the FBI man, who endured THREE grand juries (all of which declined to indict him because he'd done no crime), lost his pension, and ended a long career in sorrow.
These people won't have to deal with the Trump Revenge Department (used to be US DOJ).

[ScratchCat]

36. Except he can't accept a pardon without admitting guilt of a crime

There is no such thing as a "pre-emptive" pardon. That's why he had never heard of it until last night. The entire idea completely flies in the face of the reason for a pardon in the first place. There are qualifications and criteria, folks. One is you have to had been convicted of a crime. Another is showing remorse and contrition. J.F.C., it doesn't change because the POTUS has a (D) next to his name.

Biden just confirmed what right wing talk radio has been screaming about for six years. Between this and the ridiculous false proclamation about the ERA, .... just wow.

[Blue Owl]

37. Meanwhile MTG is foaming at the mouth like a rabid muskrat

[Betty Boom]

39. This man dedicated his life to public service...

…and to protecting the health of people around the world. It is a tragedy that he has been vilified at the close of his career by people so breathtakingly beneath him.