Matt Gaetz Pursued Pardon from Trump

The New York Times recently reported that Rep. Matt Gaetz "privately asked the White House for blanket pre-emptive pardons for himself and unidentified congressional allies for any crimes they may have committed." This fast-moving story started a few weeks ago when news broke that Mr. Gaetz was the subject of a DOJ investigation into former Seminole County, Fla., tax collector Joel Greenberg – a friend and colleague of Mr. Gaetz. Greenberg faces a raft of charges, including sex trafficking of a minor. 

As the story broke, the congressman took to social media and claimed his family was being extorted by an ex-DOJ employee for the sum of $25 million. He went on-air with Tucker Carlson to explain the allegations, after which host Carlson said it "was one of the weirdest interviews [he'd] ever conducted."

Rep. Gaetz continues to maintain his innocence as more details of the investigation come out and recently spoke at the "Save America Summit" – organized by a women's empowerment group that was also involved with the Jan. 6, riot at the U.S. Capitol.