FBI Director Kash Patel made an appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, giving the popular host and UFC commentator a massive update concerning the bureau’s investigation into Anthony Fauci.

During the episode, Patel revealed the FBI has obtained Fauci’s “phones and devices” from the COVID pandemic. This could mean accountability is headed toward those who led the charge during the country’s pandemic response.

“I mean, we just had a great breakthrough this week on Fauci,” Patel said during the interview. “So, Sen. Rand Paul. Sen. Kennedy, and I hate naming names because I always forget people, are doing a great job with us on COVID origins. We’ve got multiple investigations going on with that.”

He then added, “But they’ve always been looking for Fauci’s original phone, or not original, but phones and devices he used while he was Fauci back in Trump I during COVID. Nobody had found them…until 2 DAYS AGO…we’re not done. We’re on the case.”

Patel then informed Rogan’s listening audience not to come to the conclusion that everything they need to nail Fauci to the wall is contained in the devices. He stressed that it’s possible that all of the pertinent information could have already been deleted. Regardless, Patel feels it’s good for the morale of the American public to see that the FBI was looking and had success.

The FBI director told Rogan that the bureau and the Justice Department owe it to the American people to investigate whether or not Fauci lied to the world and caused the issues that ravaged the economy and led to the erosion of civil liberties.

One of the sticking points for Americans on this issue is that former President Joe Biden, in his final act as commander-in-chief, issued a preemptive pardon for Fauci, who once helmed the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The pardon was granted on Jan. 20, 2025, and covers any federal offenses Fauci might have committed between Jan. 1, 2014, up through the date of the pardon.

Biden claimed the reason for the pardon was to protect those who are in public service from what he called “unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions” that he anticipated would happen during President Donald Trump’s second term.

Fauci wasn’t the only one to receive a pardon. So did retired Gen. Mark Milley, along with the members of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, and law enforcement officials who gave testimony before that committee.

Critics were displeased with the action, arguing that issuing preemptive pardons undermines the American justice system.