Get PolitiFact in your inbox.
No, Anthony Fauci hasn’t been indicted
On Oct. 19, President Donald Trump called Dr. Anthony Fauci a "disaster." But that doesn’t mean that Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who has been a leading voice in the coronavirus pandemic, has been indicted for treason.
A Facebook post from May that is newly gaining traction on social media claims otherwise.
"The United States Justice has finalized a sealed indictment against Dr. Anthony Fauci for crimes including treason, conspiring with the enemy and fraud," reads the description of a video posted on Facebook that’s titled "Fauci Indicted."
Citing anonymous sources, the video claims that the Justice Department has issued a sealed indictment against Fauci for high crimes that could see him "stripped of his medical license and deported to Guantanamo Bay for the rest of his natural life."
Featured Fact-check
This post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
Fauci has not been indicted. There is no news coverage to support this claim, nor any original, credible documents or sources to corroborate it.
In a "60 Minutes" interview published online on Oct. 19, Fauci said that the Trump administration has restricted his media appearances. But he gave the interview from multiple locations, including sitting on lawn furniture outdoors and inside with his wife at a table with mugs in front of them — not Gitmo.
We rate this post Pants on Fire.
Our Sources
Facebook post, May 20, 2020
The New York Times, Trump attacks Fauci as ‘a disaster’ and dismisses fears about the still-raging coronavirus, Oct. 19, 2020
CBS News, Fauci admits administration has restricted his media appearances, says he's not surprised Trump got COVID, Oct. 19, 2020
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Ciara O'Rourke
No, Anthony Fauci hasn’t been indicted
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.