Rep. Matt Gaetz sought blanket pardons from former President Trump

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz sought blanket pre-emptive pardons for himself and others in Congress during the final days of former President Donald Trump's term, according to reports from the New York Times and Fox News.

Gaetz, an ardent Trump ally during the former president's four years in office, asked Trump aides in January for the president to offer pardons for any given crimes, two Trump associates with knowledge of the request told the Times.

The report comes amid an ongoing scandal for the representative, who is under federal criminal investigation for the potential sex trafficking of underage girls. At issue in the investigation is whether Gaetz paid for the travel and other expenses of a 17-year-old girl.