Gaetz cleared by Florida Bar after Cohen tweet probe

The Florida Bar found no probable cause that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) violated its rules when he tweeted accusing former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen of having in affair ahead of Cohen’s congressional testimony in February. 

{mosads}Florida Bar spokeswoman Francine Walker told The Hill in a statement on Thursday that the organization’s grievance committee found “no probable cause” that Gaetz “violated any of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar.”

Gaetz announced the decision in a Wednesday tweet. 

“The Florida Bar has informed me that the Grievance Committee found ‘No Probable Cause’ that I violated the rules of my profession,” he wrote. “They are taking no disciplinary action against me & are sending a letter of advice.”

“I thank the Bar committee members for their sound judgment,” he added. 

The Florida Bar has informed me that the Grievance Committee found “No Probable Cause” that I violated the rules of my profession. They are taking no disciplinary action against me & are sending a letter of advice.

I thank the Bar committee members for their sound judgment.

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) August 14, 2019

The grievance committee was investigating whether there was probable cause that the congressman violated Bar rules. 

The probe was prompted by a February tweet in which Gaetz wrote in a post directed at Cohen, “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 tweet was widely criticized, and some characterized it as witness intimidation. Gaetz has deleted the tweet and apologized, noting that he did not mean to threaten Cohen.

“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 tweeted at the time. “I’m deleting the tweet & I should have chosen words that better showed my intent. I’m sorry.”