Matt Gaetz Begged His Pardon

 

Man, Is it bad that Matt Gaetz was pretty sure that he needed a pardon from the Trump Administration for potential sex trafficking charges? 

Johnny McEntee, according to people familiar with his testimony, told investigators that Gaetz told him during a brief meeting “that they are launching an investigation into him or that there’s an investigation into him,” without specifying who was investigating Gaetz. 

McEntee added 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 told McEntee that he had asked White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows for a pardon. 

Asked by investigators if Gaetz’s ask for a pardon was in the context of the Justice Department investigation into whether Gaetz violated federal sex trafficking laws, McEntee replied, “I think that was the context, yes,” according to people familiar with the testimony who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

Now, just because someone votes in ways that kind of suggest sympathy with sex traffickers and has friends that are sex traffickers is no reason to rush to any kind of conclusion. But, I dunno. 

I might. 

But the story also suggests that Gzaetz was pushing for something along the lines of a "blanket pardon" for himself and other lawmakers, so he could have been concerned about all kinds of things.  Which is also not a great look.

As for his part, former President Trump says he never was asked for a pardon by Gaetz and I have no problem believing Trump never gave him one.