Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida, was one of President Donald J. Trump’s most vocal allies during his term, publicly pledging loyalty and even signing a letter nominating the president for the Nobel Peace Prize.
[...]
Few Republicans in Congress became more closely associated with Mr. Trump during his presidency than Mr. Gaetz. Though he had initially supported his fellow Floridian Jeb Bush in the 2016 Republican primary race, Mr. Gaetz latched his political fortunes to Mr. Trump during the campaign and found stardom in the Republican Party, becoming one of Mr. Trump’s greatest defenders.
[...]
After Democrats took back the House in 2018 and began cranking up pressure on the Trump administration, Mr. Gaetz emerged as a standout in what he called the “warrior class” of lawmakers who made it their mission to protect the president.
“The president has called me when I was in my car, asleep in the middle of the night on my Longworth Office cot, on the throne, on airplanes, in nightclubs, and even in the throes of passion (yes, I answered),” Mr. Gaetz boasted in his [autobiography].
[...]
In the final weeks of Mr. Trump’s term, Mr. Gaetz sought something in return. He privately asked the White House for blanket pre-emptive pardons for himself and unidentified congressional allies for any crimes they may have committed, according to two people told of the discussions.
NYT
Let's find out who those "congressional allies" are. They may be implicated in the sex scandal Gaetz is about to go down for.
Mr. Gaetz did not tell White House aides that he was under investigation for potential sex trafficking violations when he made the request.
[...]
It was unclear whether Mr. Gaetz or the White House knew at the time about the inquiry [into Gaetz' "activities"].
Bill Barr initiated the investigation. I'm betting Trump knew.
Aides told Mr. Trump of the request, although Mr. Trump said in a statement on Wednesday that he had not discussed the matter directly with Mr. Gaetz. Mr. Trump ultimately pardoned dozens of allies and others in the final months of his presidency, highlighting his willingness to wield his power to help close supporters and lash out against the criminal justice system.
[...]
“Congressman Matt Gaetz has never asked me for a pardon,” Mr. Trump said. “It must also be remembered that he has totally denied the accusations against him.”
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Since the existence of the investigation was publicly revealed last week, Mr. Trump and his close allies have mostly remained silent. Mr. Trump’s advisers have urged him to stay quiet and sought to distance the former president from Mr. Gaetz.
[...]
Mr. Trump [once] publicly singled out Mr. Gaetz, saying he was a “great talent, young, handsome,” thanking him for his advocacy on the president’s behalf and predicting Mr. Gaetz was “going places.”
Yeah. To jail.
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