By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
In an act of brazen political maneuvering, Dr. Anthony Fauci and the members of the January 6th Committee were granted presidential pardons under the cover of darkness, effectively shielding them from accountability and raising profound questions about the state of justice in our nation.
This clandestine move — deliberately timed and executed to escape the scrutiny of the press and the American people — demonstrates a calculated effort to subvert full consideration and attention. It’s a stark reminder of the lengths those in power will go to protect their own, even at the expense of the public trust.
Presidential pardons are, by nature, tools of extraordinary power, meant to temper justice with mercy in rare and deserving cases. But when used in this manner — sneaked through in the dead of night without explanation or justification — they cease to be acts of grace and become acts of complicity.
They are shields against accountability, protecting individuals whose actions have raised legitimate and pressing questions of criminality. This was not a decision meant to heal the nation; it was a decision meant to silence the truth.
Consider the individuals at the center of these pardons.
Fauci, who stood as the face of America’s COVID-19 response, has been mired in controversy for years. Evidence has emerged linking Fauci to the funding of gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where many experts now believe COVID-19 originated. Fauci’s inconsistent messaging on masks, lockdowns and vaccine mandates has sown distrust and confusion among millions of Americans.
These are not minor infractions — they are decisions that profoundly and adversely affected lives, livelihoods and the very fabric of our society. A presidential pardon in this context is not a mere act of leniency; it is a damning admission that Fauci’s actions warranted criminal investigation.
The January 6th Committee, on the other hand, cloaked itself in the language of accountability but functioned as a partisan weapon, wielded against political opponents under the guise of justice. Its selective presentation of evidence, refusal to consider exculpatory testimony, and overt politicization of the events of Jan. 6 made it a tool not of truth-seeking but of political retribution.
The committee’s tactics were a direct assault on the principles of due process and impartiality. A pardon for its members suggests that their actions were not above board, that their conduct left them vulnerable to prosecution — prosecution that these pardons now preemptively eliminate.
The manner in which these pardons were issued is perhaps the most troubling aspect of all.
Rather than standing before the American people and providing a transparent justification, the administration opted to execute this decision in secrecy. By choosing the dead of night to deliver these pardons, they have made it clear that they wanted to avoid the backlash, the tough questions and the public outrage they knew would follow.
This is not how a government accountable to its citizens behaves. This is the behavior of a regime more concerned with self-preservation than with upholding the rule of law.
This underhanded execution must outrage every American who values transparency and justice. The timing of these pardons suggests an intent to escape the spotlight, to avoid the hard truths and uncomfortable questions that would arise in open daylight. If these actions were truly defensible, why were they not announced proudly, with clear explanations of their necessity and appropriateness? The answer is obvious: they are indefensible.
What’s more, this stealthy maneuver undermines the very fabric of our democracy.
The 1st Amendment guarantees freedom of the press and the right of the people to hold their government accountable. By orchestrating these pardons in a way designed to elude public scrutiny, the administration has not only betrayed these principles but has also further eroded public trust in the integrity of our institutions. How can Americans believe in a system that operates in the shadows, shielding the powerful from the consequences of their actions?
The implications of these pardons are profound. They signal that the individuals granted clemency had something to hide, that their actions may have crossed the line from incompetence to illegality. Whether it’s Fauci’s role in the pandemic’s origins or the January 6th Committee’s overtly partisan crusade, the need for accountability has never been greater. And yet, these pardons ensure that the full truth may never come to light.
This should enrage every decent, justice-loving American. These midnight pardons represent not the closure of a chapter but the continuation of a narrative of corruption, deceit and impunity. They demonstrate that those in power will go to any lengths to protect their own, even if it means subverting the principles of transparency and fairness that underpin our democracy.
And what of the message this sends to future leaders and officials? If Fauci and the January 6th Committee can escape scrutiny through the stroke of a pen, what deterrent is there for others who might abuse their power be it Democratic or Republican? This sets a dangerous precedent, one that threatens to make our government less accountable, less transparent and less beholden to the people it is supposed to serve.
Yet, amidst this darkness, there is a glimmer of hope. The American people are waking up to these abuses of power. Those of us who have long called for transparency, accountability and justice must redouble our efforts. We must demand answers, not just about the crimes these pardons may be covering up but about the systemic failures that allowed such actions to occur.
These pardons are not acts of reconciliation – they are acts of betrayal. They shield the guilty while mocking the principles of justice and fairness. But we, the American people, are not powerless. We have the right and the duty to demand better, to insist on a government that serves us, not itself. Let these midnight pardons be a rallying cry — a call to action for all who believe in the rule of law and the enduring promise of our Constitution. The fight for justice is far from over, and it is a fight we must win.
C. J. Garbo is a seasoned political analyst and conservative thought leader with over a decade of experience in public policy, law enforcement and grassroots activism. A former Republican candidate for the State House, Garbo has served as a campaign strategist and advisor for numerous local, state and federal campaigns. His extensive background in law enforcement, combined with his political expertise, provides him with a unique perspective on issues of justice, governance and accountability. Garbo is a staunch advocate for constitutional principles, transparency and the integrity of American institutions, bringing insightful and persuasive analysis to today’s most pressing political issues.