U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz said Wednesday he’s personally apologized to President Donald Trump’s former longtime attorney, Michael Cohen, after posting a taunting tweet that critics called plainly threatening on the eve of Cohen’s testimony before the House Oversight Committee.
“I’ve personally apologized to @MichaelCohen212 (for) referencing his private family in the public square,” Gaetz wrote in a tweet posted Wednesday night. “Regardless of disagreements, family members should be off-limits from attacks from representatives, senators & presidents, including myself. Let’s leave the Cohen family alone.”
The tweet and personal apology came one day after Gaetz came under heavy criticism for another message that tagged Cohen’s Twitter account.
“Hey @MichaelCohen212 – Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends?” Gaetz wrote Tuesday in the since-deleted tweet. “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.”
Gaetz apologized Tuesday amid criticism for the tweet and took it off social media. However, on Wednesday, Florida Bar spokeswoman Francine Walker told the Pensacola News Journal that the organization had opened an investigation into Gaetz's tweet.
“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,” Walker told the newspaper. “Our rules of confidentiality do not permit me to provide any other information at this time.”
Gaetz dismissed the investigation in a text message Wednesday to the Northwest Florida Daily News.
“It seems that the Florida Bar, by its rules, is required to investigate the most frivolous of complaints,” he wrote.
The investigation was ongoing Thursday.
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