Matt Gaetz accused of seeking Trump pardon – follow live

Joe Biden has meanwhile warned Americans against treating the coronavirus pandemic with complacency as he moved forward the deadline for widespread access to the Covid-19 vaccines to 19 April, two weeks earlier than previously planned.

“Despite the progress we’re making as a nation, I want every American to know in no uncertain terms, that this fight isn’t over. This progress we’ve worked so hard to achieve can be reversed. Now’s not the time to let down. Now’s not the time to celebrate,” he said, speaking at a vaccination site at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria on Tuesday.

Justin Vallejo has this report.

Under-fire Florida congressman Matt Gaetz reportedly sought a blanket pardon from former president Donald Trump during the final weeks of his administration, a revelation that comes as he faces a federal sex trafficking investigation.

Gaetz’s spokespeople have denied the story, however, telling The NYT: “Entry-level political operatives have conflated a pardon call from Representative Gaetz – where he called for President Trump to pardon ‘everyone from himself, to his administration, to Joe Exotic’ – with these false and increasingly bizarre, partisan allegations against him.

“Those comments have been on the record for some time, and President Trump even retweeted the congressman, who tweeted them out himself,” the spokesman added.

Here’s the latest on the one-time MAGA favourite, who is refusing to step down despite his fellow Republicans gently backing away and tiptoeing for the fire exit.