The Florida Bar has opened an investigation into attorney and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) to determine if his threatening tweet to Michael Cohen was a form of witness intimidation.
According to a Wednesday Daily Beast report, Gaetz was not previously aware of the probe.
“Hey @MichaelCohen212,” read Gaetz’s now-deleted tweet. “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 ultimately apologized when called out by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
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
During Cohen’s testimony before the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Stacey Plaskett called for Gatez to be investigated by the House Ethics Committee for possible witness tampering or intimidation and, if proven, be referred for criminal prosecution.
Plaskett thinks Gaetz should be referred to Ethics Committee, and possibly, for criminal prosecution pic.twitter.com/e1NuPEGBDL
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) February 27, 2019