Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall joined a coalition of state attorneys general last week in seeking accountability for Dr. Anthony Fauci's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that state laws remain a viable avenue for legal action despite a federal pardon.

In a letter to congressional leaders, the attorneys general urged continued scrutiny of Fauci's role in the federal pandemic response and requested access to any evidence that could support state-level investigations. The letter, addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, commended the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic for uncovering what it described as fraud, waste and abuse in the government's handling of COVID-19 according to a news release.

The subcommittee's findings suggest Fauci and other federal officials engaged in misconduct, including misleading the public about the origins of COVID-19, misrepresenting National Institutes of Health funding for gain-of-function research in Wuhan and suppressing scientific debate on pandemic policies and vaccine risks.

"Americans deserve full transparency and accountability for the decisions made during the pandemic — decisions that affected every aspect of their lives," Marshall said in the release. "From misleading Congress on gain-of-function research to stifling debate on public health policies, Dr. Fauci's actions have severely eroded public trust. While former President Joe Biden may have surreptitiously shielded him from federal consequences, state laws remain a powerful tool for ensuring that no one is above accountability."

The attorneys general contend that Biden's pardon, issued in the final days of his presidency, does not prevent states from pursuing legal action. They called on Congress to share relevant evidence that could support state-led investigations, arguing that the American people deserve justice.

Attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia signed the letter which can be found at https://tinyurl.com/zxrrjzre.