Recent Senate committee action referring Anthony Fauci for contempt over his Fifth Amendment invocations during COVID-related testimony has prompted DOJ review, yet the Biden-era federal pardon covering 2014–2025 actions creates substantial legal barriers to federal prosecution. State-level investigations in Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, and West Virginia remain at early stages without indictments. The referral reached the U.S. Attorney’s office only weeks before the December 31 deadline, leaving insufficient time for grand jury proceedings amid documented complexities in pursuing contempt cases against pardoned witnesses. Trader consensus at 87% against charges by year-end reflects these procedural timelines, pardon protections, and historical patterns in politically charged federal matters.