Rep. Matt Gaetz, Under Sex Trafficking Probe, Asked Trump for Preemptive Pardon

Republican Representative Matt Gaetz reportedly asked for a blanket pardon to the Trump administration during its final weeks in office.

According to an ABC News report, the Florida representative was said to be seeking a preemptive pardon for the crimes that may have been committed.

A Mail Online report noted that the preemptive pardons for Gaetz and his congressional allies for any crimes they may have committed came months before Gaetz was revealed to be under federal investigation for sex trafficking.

Sources told ABC News that former President Donald Trump was aware of Gaetz's request, but it was quickly dismissed inside the White House.

Matt Gaetz and the Blanket Pardon

The Department of Justice is conducting a probe if Gaetz violated sex trafficking laws by having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and paid for her to travel with him. It was launched last year when Trump was still president.

"The request was so outlandish... that even President Trump turned it down," Michael Waldman, president of the nonprofit Brennan Center for Justice at NYU, told ABC News.

Sources said it's unclear whether the White House or Gaetz was aware of the ongoing DOJ probe at the time. Matt Gaetz has denied the allegations against him.

"A blanket pardon to a member of Congress under investigation would have been even more extraordinary," said Waldman.

Michael Waldman further noted that it is "an open question" whether a president can grant a blanket pardon in advance. Waldman emphasized that issuing a blanket pardon in advance will serve as an invitation to "go forth and break the law."

Some Trump associates have begun speculating that Matt Gaetz sought a blanket pardon to conceal his own potential criminal exposure.

However, a spokesperson for Matt Gaetz has denied that the pardon request is related to the Department of Justice's investigation, according to a KXLY report.

Matt Gaetz and Trump Administration

Matt Gaetz earlier voiced his support for Trump's presidential pardons for all of his allies, including himself.

"He should pardon everyone from himself to his administration officials to Joe Exotic if he has to," Matt Gaetz said in an interview with Laura Ingraham.

Gaetz's spokesperson said those comments have been on the record for some time, adding that Trump has even retweeted the congressman's post.

Trump has issued a total of 116 pardons during his last month in office. However, none of them were pre-emptive, even though he had the power to do so. Despite Gaetz's support, Trump and his allies had stayed mum on the allegations surrounding the lawmaker.

Among the lurid allegations against Matt Gaetz include being involved in a Harry Potter-themed sex game, paid for sex using Apple Pay, and showed photos of naked women to his Congressional colleagues on the House floor.

WATCH: NYT: Matt Gaetz Said To Have Sought Blanket Pardon - From MSNBC