Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Wednesday, August 6th, 2026, that his office is joining Louisiana and West Virginia in issuing a subpoena to Dr. Anthony Fauci. The subpoena initiates an official investigation into alleged financial benefits Fauci may have received from his Covid-19 guidance, including awards, professional opportunities, financial incentives, and grants that impacted Florida businesses and consumers.

Uthmeier, alongside West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, stated the investigation focuses on whether Fauci personally profited from his public recommendations as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "Government officials have a certain level of immunity in their official capacities, but if Fauci personally profited off of the ‘guidance’ he issued, that very well could have broken Florida law," Uthmeier said.

The subpoena follows increased scrutiny from some lawmakers on Capitol Hill regarding Fauci's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. At a recent Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions from Republicans about the pandemic response.

Uthmeier criticized Fauci’s pandemic diary, saying it "focused more on self-promotion than the legitimate safety concerns from the mRNA vaccines," and accused him of pushing for "book deals, awards, and fortune and fame" while Floridians were allegedly harmed by his misrepresentations. The diary reportedly details substantial awards linked to Fauci’s public recommendations.

Notably, President Joe Biden issued a pre-emptive pardon for Fauci just before leaving office in January 2025.

Sources