The Florida Bar decided to proceed with an investigation into Gaetz, who is licensed to practice law in the state of Florida, and whether or not his threatening tweet counts as witness intimidation. According to the Tampa Bay Times, the Grievance Committee has decided to not drop the matter, and will further investigate whether or not the tweet violated state law for lawyers.
An investigator will now be assigned to the case, which could take at least 6 months, and if probable cause is found, a formal complaint will be filed with the Supreme Court of Florida, where a trial will be held, reports the Times.
Gaetz's very public, and very dark tweet to Cohen was sent on February 27, the night before he was scheduled to speak before Congress and spill dirt on Trump’s shady business dealings, asking if his wife knew about alleged girlfriends.
“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…,” said Gaetz in the now deleted tweet.
Gaetz later apologized for the tweet, saying he was not trying to threaten Cohen and that he “should have chosen words that better showed my intent.” He was also spotted in the chamber during Cohen’s testimony staring down the witness.
Gaetz then laughed off the fact that he was being investigated by the Florida Bar, calling it a “formality.” “The Florida Bar has to investigate,” Gaetz said to the Miami Herald. “If I said [a reporter standing next to him] purposely wears striped ties because he knows they intimidate me and if I filed a bar grievance against him for that purpose, they would have to investigate, so I’m not concerned.”
The congressman also reportedly bragged to Trump about threatening Cohen. "I was happy to do it, you just keep killing it," said Gaetz during a phone conversation with the president, which was overheard by an Atlantic reporter. Cohen later denied that he was speaking to Trump.
Well, it would appear that mob-style tactics are no laughing matter to the Florida Bar.
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This article appears in May 2-9, 2019.