Florida Bar Investigating Rep. Gaetz for Cohen Tweet

Rep. Matt Gaetz on Cohen Tweet: It Was Not Meant to be Threatening

By Christie Zizo and Samantha-Jo Roth Washington, D.C.

PUBLISHED 3:30 PM ET Feb. 27, 2019 PUBLISHED 3:30 PM EST Feb. 27, 2019

ORLANDO, Fla. — A tweet landed a Florida congressman in hot water this week, and now the Florida Bar Association is looking into the matter.

Florida Bar says it investigates members when it gets a complaint
Gaetz's now-deleted tweet called out attorney Michael Cohen
Gaetz says Cohen has no reason not to lie to Congress again

On Tuesday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fort Walton Beach) directed to the following to Michael Cohen:

"Hey @MichaelCohen212 - Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends? maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat. I wonder if she'll remain faithful when you're in prison. She's about to learn a lot..."

He later deleted the tweet.

Gaetz's tweet came a day before Cohen was supposed to appear before the House Oversight Committee regarding past actions he said he did in the service of President Donald Trump.

At the time, Gaetz said his tweet wasn't meant as a threat but that witnesses needed to be tested.

.@mattgaetz asked if his Cohen tweet went too far, says: “There is no effort to threaten Michael Cohen but of course we have to test witnesses, every effort to test a witnesses’ truthfulness is not an effort to tamper with their testimony.” @MyNews13 @BN9 @SpectrumNewsDC pic.twitter.com/2IsM6K1QVY
— Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) February 27, 2019

However, many online saw the tweet as a threat and claimed they reported it to Twitter and the FBI. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi felt compelled to tweet out a reminder to lawmakers to be careful what they tweet:

I encourage all Members to be mindful that comments made on social media or in the press can adversely affect the ability of House Committees to obtain the truthful and complete information necessary to fulfill their duties. https://t.co/NDnxkaiFCA pic.twitter.com/DIIgSHgeb5
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 26, 2019

Gaetz responded directly to Pelosi and deleted the tweet:

Speaker, I want to get the truth too. While it is important 2 create context around the testimony of liars like Michael Cohen, it was NOT my intent to threaten, as some believe I did. I’m deleting the tweet & I should have chosen words that better showed my intent. I’m sorry. https://t.co/Rdbw3sTQJD
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) February 27, 2019

The Florida Bar, the group that regulates lawyers in the state, said it opened an investigation, based on complaints.

Any time the words or actions of a Florida lawyer result in complaints, The Florida Bar will fully investigate those complaints through its established grievance process to determine if Bar rules have been violated. That procedure is detailed on our website. If rules have been violated, The Florida Bar will vigorously pursue appropriate discipline by the Florida Supreme Court. The Florida Bar takes its responsibility of regulating lawyer conduct very seriously. It handles thousands of complaints each year, filing charges and pursuing discipline against lawyers whose professional conduct is not in keeping with the rules.
The Florida Bar is aware of the comments made in a tweet yesterday by Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is a Florida Bar member, and I can confirm we have opened an investigation. Our rules of confidentiality do not permit me to provide any other information at this time but you are welcome to check back on the status of the case.

Gaetz is a staunch ally of Trump and has been a vocal critic of Cohen's claims about the president's conduct and how Cohen claimed he served the president as his personal lawyer.

Gaetz, in his capacity as a congressman, has met with Cohen while serving on the House Judiciary Committee. He told Spectrum News reporter Samantha-Jo Roth that he thinks Cohen is resentful and angry with the president and is capable of lying to Congress again.

.@mattgaetz tells me: “Michael Cohen doesn’t need too much of a reason to lie as a regular course of business to the Treasury Department, to the IRS, to 3 different banks and even to Congress where he today has been rolled out a red carpet by the Democrats.” @MyNews13 @BN9 pic.twitter.com/5IJgL8RjTQ
— Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) February 27, 2019

Late Wednesday Gaetz adopted a different tone, however. He issued the following tweet saying he'd apologized personally to Cohen for referencing the latter's family.

I’ve personally apologized to @MichaelCohen212 4 referencing his private family in the public square. Regardless of disagreements, family members should be off-limits from attacks from representatives, senators & presidents, including myself. Let’s leave the Cohen family alone.
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) February 28, 2019

Spectrum News reporter Greg Angel contributed to this story.

Rep. Matt Gaetz on Cohen Tweet: It Was Not Meant to be Threatening

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