Matt Gaetz asked White House for blanket preemptive pardon

Congressman Matt Gaetz, a close ally of former President Trump, asked the White House for a blanket preemptive pardon before Mr. Trump left office, two sources familiar with the situation confirm to CBS News. 

One of the sources said Gaetz asked for the blanket preemptive pardon for both himself and other congressional allies. The source noted that Gaetz and a few others couched the request broadly, implying that anyone close to Mr. Trump should receive a preemptive pardon because "the left is ruthless." The New York Times first reported Gaetz asked the White House for a pardon.  "Clearly, Gaetz was protecting his own hide and was pursuing a 'safety in numbers,' 'we're all martyrs' strategy without revealing a DOJ investigation!" the source told CBS News.