Rep. Matt Gaetz
Matthew (Matt) Gaetz The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden, McConnell agree on vaccines, clash over infrastructure Katie Hill: Gaetz ‘should be held accountable’ as sexual allegations are true Meghan McCain calls on Gaetz to step down MORE (R-Fla.) Reportedly sought a general preventive pardon from the White House during the last weeks of President Trump
Donald Trump Joe Biden’s Surprising Presidency The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden and McConnell agree on vaccines, clash over infrastructure Republican battle with MLB intensifies MOREgovernment, a revelation that comes when the legislature is the subject of a federal investigation into sex trafficking.
Gaetz asked Trump to pardon him and unidentified Congressional allies, two people familiar with the discussion told The New York Times. The conversation came about the same time when Gaetz publicly called on Trump to pardon GOP allies and when the Justice Department was investigating the Florida Republican over an alleged relationship with a 17-year-old who violated sex trafficking laws.
It was not immediately clear whether Gaetz was aware of the federal investigation when he filed for a pardon, according to the Times. Gaetz’s request was communicated to a Trump assistant, and it was also unclear whether Gaetz was directly pardoning the then president, the paper reported.
Trump and Gaetz spokespersons did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Hill.
“Entry-level political agents have joined a pardon from Representative Gaetz – where he called on President Trump to pardon ‘everyone of himself, his administration, Joe Exotic’ – with these false and increasingly bizarre, partisan allegations against him,” a spokesman said from Gaetz to the Times.
“Those comments have been on the list for a while and President Trump even retweeted the congressman, who tweeted them herself.”
Gaetz also said last month that he is “not looking for a pardon”.
The Times report is the latest in a whirlwind scandal surrounding Gaetz.
In addition to the Justice Department investigation, reports have also surfaced alleging that Gaetz showed colleagues nude photos of women he claims to have slept with and used illegal drugs and paid for sex with women.
Gaetz has denied all charges and claims they are part of a smear campaign against him by his political opponents.
“The cycles of scandals in Washington are predictable, and sex is particularly powerful in politics,” Gaetz wrote in an editorial published in the Washington Examiner Monday. “First let me remind everyone that I am a representative in Congress, not a monk and certainly not a criminal.”