Matt Gaetz apologizes and deletes tweet but insists he wasn’t threatening Michael Cohen

Michael Cohen, former attorney and fixer for President Trump, testifies before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Credit: Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

Hours after sending an incendiary tweet accusing Michael Cohen of infidelity, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) apologized late Tuesday, insisting he did not intend to threaten President Trump’s former lawyer on the eve of his highly anticipated testimony before Congress.

Without evidence, Gaetz suggested earlier Tuesday that Cohen, who is married, had multiple “girlfriends,” prompting some legal observers and Democrats to accuse the Florida Republican of engaging in witness tampering. About seven hours later, he issued a mea culpa in a tweet addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

“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,” he wrote just before midnight. “I’m deleting the tweet & should have chosen words that better showed my intent. I’m sorry.”

View the complete February 27 article by Meagan Flynn and Rachael Bade on The Washington Post website here.