Gaetz sought pardon in sex trafficking probe, report finds
Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida sought a “preemptive pardon” from then-President Donald Trump regarding a sex trafficking probe in which he is allegedly a target, according to a report by the Washington Post.
The newspaper reported Saturday that Johnny McEntee, a former White House Aide, told the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot that Gaetz sought the “preemptive pardon.”
The Post, citing unnamed sources familiar with the investigation, said McEntee told the committee that Gaetz told him “he did not do anything wrong but they are trying to make his life hell, and you know, if the president could give him a pardon, that would be great.”
Gaetz did not specify the investigation, but also told McEntee he asked White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows for a pardon, the Post said.
A spokesman for Gaetz told the Post that the Congressman from North Florida stands behind Trump’s statement that Gaetz never sought a pardon from him.
Other witnesses close to Trump have also testified to the committee that Gaetz was seeking a pardon, though he never actually received one.
Several news outlets have reported Gaetz is under investigation into whether he had sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl whom he paid to travel out of the country with him.
The investigation emerged from the case into disgraced Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg, who is friends with Gaetz and pleaded guilty to sex trafficking last year and is a key witness into Gaetz and other political figures.
Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing.
Read the full story at the Washington Post.