For years, Dr. Anthony Fauci stood at the center of America’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. His recommendations influenced federal policy, state governments, schools, churches, businesses, hospitals, and the daily lives of millions of Americans.

This week, Dr. Fauci once again appeared before Congress. Rather than answering many of the questions posed by senators, he repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination—reportedly more than 100 times during his testimony.

Let me be clear from the outset.

Invoking the Fifth Amendment is a constitutional right afforded to every American. Exercising that right is not, by itself, evidence of guilt.

However, as someone who lived through the pandemic alongside every other American, I believe the public deserves answers from the officials whose decisions changed our country in ways we may be feeling for generations.

The COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t simply a public health crisis. It fundamentally altered American life.

Families were separated from loved ones during their final moments. Children lost graduations, sporting events, proms, and years of normal classroom instruction. Churches closed their doors. Small businesses disappeared. Many people were told where they could go, how many people they could gather with, and, in some cases, whether they could even earn a living.

For many Americans, those restrictions represented one of the most sweeping expansions of government authority in modern history. Whether every decision was made with good intentions or whether some policies were avoidable will continue to be debated for years. What cannot be debated is that the consequences were profound.

Those were extraordinary actions that affected nearly every person in this country.

That is why I believe extraordinary accountability should follow.

One of the biggest questions surrounding this week’s testimony isn’t simply why Dr. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment. It’s why former President Joe Biden believed it necessary to issue him a broad preemptive federal pardon before leaving office.

In my opinion, there should be no such thing as a blanket preemptive pardon for public officials.

The Constitution grants presidents the authority to issue pardons, but I believe using that authority before criminal charges are ever filed sends the wrong message to the American people. It creates the appearance that politically connected officials can be shielded from scrutiny before investigators have completed their work.

Whether that was President Biden’s intent is something each reader can decide for themselves. What I know is this: public trust is earned through transparency, not secrecy.

Throughout the pandemic, Americans were told masks would stop the spread, then later heard changing guidance about which masks were effective and under what circumstances. Schools were closed in many communities, only for studies and public officials to later acknowledge the significant academic and emotional toll prolonged closures had on children. Public messaging evolved repeatedly as new information became available.

In my opinion, those shifting messages and the decisions surrounding them deserve continued examination.

Millions of lives were affected.

Children lost milestones they can never get back.

Families were unable to comfort loved ones during their final hours.

Church congregations were separated from one another.

Small businesses closed forever.

Communities became divided over mandates that many never imagined would exist in America.

I also believe Congress has a responsibility to continue asking difficult questions—not because of politics, but because the American people deserve a complete accounting of how these decisions were made.

Whether history ultimately vindicates or condemns many of the decisions made during COVID-19 remains to be seen.

But one principle should unite Americans regardless of political affiliation.

Public officials entrusted with extraordinary authority should be willing to answer extraordinary questions.

That isn’t revenge.

It’s accountability.

Final Thought

A government that asks its citizens to trust it without question is a government that has forgotten who it serves.

Accountability isn’t optional. It’s the price of public service.

Whether you believe Dr. Fauci acted appropriately or believe he should face greater scrutiny, one principle should unite us all: those entrusted with extraordinary power should never be beyond extraordinary questioning.

The American people endured one of the most disruptive periods in our nation’s history. They deserve honest answers—not because of politics, but because truth is the foundation upon which trust is built.

— Michael Bolack

Publisher | IRC Media