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.

Republican Matt Gaetz threatens Cohen over ‘girlfriends’ on eve of testimony

Rep. Matt Gaetz takes a selfie with President Donald Trump after Trump’s State of the Union address in Washington D.C., on Jan. 30, 2018. Credit:: Tom Williams, CQ Roll Call, Getty Images

The Florida congressman asked Cohen on Twitter, ‘Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends?’

Rep. Matt Gaetz appeared to openly intimidate President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen less than 24 hours before Cohen publicly testifies against his old boss in the House Oversight and Reform Committee.

“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…” the Florida Republican tweeted Tuesday afternoon.

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…

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) February 26, 2019

Cohen is expected to testify before two separate House committees this week that Trump directed him to commit multiple crimes. They include sending illegal hush payments to two of the president’s former mistresses, and lying to Congress about the timeline of negotiations for a Trump Tower in Moscow.

View the complete February 26 article by Griffin Connolly on The Roll Call website here.