National
GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz apologizes for tweet targeting Michael Cohen
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., apologized late Tuesday for a tweet that appeared to threaten to release unsavory allegations about President Trump’s former fixer, Michael Cohen, as the onetime attorney prepared to testify publicly before Congress.
Gaetz was responding to a tweet from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California that said, “Comments made on social media or in the press can adversely affect the ability of House Committees to obtain the truthful and complete information.”
“It was NOT my intent to threaten, as some believe I did,” the congressman wrote on Twitter. “I’m deleting the tweet & I should have chosen words that better showed my intent. I’m sorry.”
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
Earlier Tuesday Gaetz tweeted an ominous warning to Cohen:
“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…,” Gaetz said on Twitter Tuesday, without offering evidence.
A source close to Cohen swiftly responded, telling NBC News in a statement that “it is a shame Republicans have resorted to stooping this low and personally attacking Michael Cohen with lies about his personal life. These allegations are absolutely not true. The true story about President Trump’s own lies and coverups will be told to the world tomorrow.”
Lanny Davis, an attorney for Cohen, called Gaetz’s tweet a “new low.”
“We will not respond to Mr. Gaetz’s despicable lies and personal smears, except to say we trust that his colleagues in the House, both Republicans and Democrats, will repudiate his words and his conduct,” he said in a statement.
Gaetz’s tweet was criticized on social media as a blatant attempt to intimidate Cohen ahead of his public hearing.
“A tweet in which a sitting member of Congress tries his hand at witness intimidation,” the former director of the Office of Government Ethics, Walter Shaub, said on Twitter.
Shaub also tweeted directly back at Gaetz with the relevant section of the U.S. Code that prohibits tampering with a witness, victim or an informant.
Gaetz, in an earlier interview Tuesday with NBC News on Capitol Hill, said that his “tweet speaks for itself.”
“This isn’t witness tampering. This is witness testing,” he said.
“I don’t threaten anybody. Michael Cohen threatens people … Michael Cohen is a Ph.D. in threats and intimidation,” he added.
Gaetz is not a member of the House Oversight Committee and will not question Cohen on Wednesday.
“I have regular conversations with my colleagues on the witnesses that come before our committees … he’s a liar through and through,” he said.
Gaetz, a staunch Trump ally, did not expand on whether he has any information regarding Cohen’s personal relationships. Asked by NBC News how Gaetz knows Cohen has had extramarital affairs, the congressman’s chief of staff, Jillian Lane Wyant, reiterated that his “tweet speaks for itself.”
Cohen’s highly-anticipated appearance before Congress comes after weeks of delays. His three-day stint on Capitol Hill began Tuesday with a closed-door session before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Only the Wednesday hearing before the House Oversight Committee is scheduled to be made public. Cohen will also testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday.
A knowledgeable source about what to expect during Wednesday’s hearing said Cohen will provide evidence of Trump’s alleged criminal conduct since becoming president and detail his allegations of the president’s lies, racism and cheating as a private businessman, NBC News previously reported.
By: NBC Palm Springs
February 27, 2019
Latest Instagram Posts
Who has the BEST cell service in the Coachella Valley? 👀 Which carrier do YOU use, and how’s your service?👇 #therogginreport #coachellavalley #localnews #fyp #nbcpalmsprings
Breakfast for just $1 while helping local families this holiday season! Starting Thursday, Spencer’s Restaurant in Palm Springs is offering ANY breakfast menu item for just $1, with proceeds benefiting DAP Health’s Winter Fest. The annual effort provides food, blankets and toys to families in need across the eastern Coachella Valley. Want to give a little more? The restaurant’s owner will match additional donations up to $10,000! The deal runs from 7:30–10 a.m. through November 22. Reservations are required through OpenTable. Would you take advantage of a $1 breakfast to support a great local cause? #PalmSprings #CoachellaValley #DAPHealth #SpencersRestaurant #WinterFest #SupportLocal
☕️Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. Are you a veteran?
Firefighters, furry friends and a great cause! Palm Springs Life magazine has teamed up with the Palm Springs Fire Department and Animal Samaritans for a new charity calendar featuring local firefighters and adorable adoptable animals. Calendars are $20, with a portion of sales benefiting the Animal Samaritans Rescue Fund and the restoration of El Diablo, a historic 1931 American fire engine. It's a great way to support two local organizations while bringing a little extra cuteness to your wall! #PalmSprings #AnimalSamaritans #PalmSpringsFireDepartment #AdoptDontShop #CoachellaValley #NBCPalmSprings
Overriding the jury, the voters, and the families? This decision is sparking major outrage across the state. What’s your take? #therogginreport #news #trendingnews #fyp #nbcpalmsprings
The FAGE WTA Finals are bringing some of the world’s top women tennis players to the Coachella Valley — but the impact goes far beyond the court. From hotels and restaurants to local tourism and small businesses, just how much of an economic boost is this tournament bringing to the desert? @maria_nvtv is a closer look at what this international sporting event could mean for our local economy. #WTATennis #WTFinals #CoachellaValley #LocalEconomy #PalmSprings
Palm Springs Pride's theme this year was “BE INCLUDED.” So why was Code Pink told it couldn't march? For the second year in a row, the anti-war and feminist group was denied a place in the Pride Parade. Organizers say the group's message doesn't directly support the LGBTQ+ community and point to concerns raised by community members. Code Pink says its members include LGBTQ+ people and argues that exclusion goes against the spirit of Pride. After the parade ended, the group took to the route anyway. Was this a matter of protecting the purpose of Pride — or a contradiction of its message of inclusion? Where do you stand? #PalmSpringsPride #CodePink #LGBTQ #FreeSpeech #CoachellaValley #NBCPalmSprings
Palm Springs Pride is celebrating 40 years of community and inclusion this year. And while hundreds of thousands of people painted the town rainbow, others took the occasion to protest against the exclusion of one group from the parade. Tune in to our on air newscasts at 8:30 and 11 p.m as our @newsbyalondra takes us inside the festivities and protest that took place this year.
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1) John Moreno Jr. with the TFL 2) Kingston Pellum with the snag or, 3)Parker Lewis with the interception #hondaofthedesert #fnl #fridaynightlights #fyp #highschoolfootball
Pride weekend brought the party to the pool at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs! David Reese stopped by the annual GED Magazine pool party, where an estimated 1,000 people gathered to celebrate community, inclusivity and Pride. The festivities continue with more events, including the Locker Room after-hours party and the Refresh pool party following Sunday’s parade. #PalmSpringsPride #PrideWeekend #AceHotel #GEDMagazine #NBCPalmSprings