TAMPA, Fla. _ An investigation into U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz will proceed, the Florida Bar said Wednesday, meaning the Florida Republican could face discipline for allegedly intimidating President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen.
A panel called the Grievance Committee will next decide whether there is probable cause that Gaetz's tweet violated Florida rules for lawyers. Gaetz is licensed to practice law in Florida.
If the Florida Bar had determined in its initial review that discipline was not warranted, then the case would have stopped. But it has not, meaning the Bar has decided that further investigation is needed.
In moving the case against Gaetz to this step, the Florida Bar is also signaling that its initial review determined that the allegations against Gaetz would, if proven true, be a violation of the state's rules for lawyers.
No further information is available, said Florida Bar spokeswoman Francine Walker.
The complaint against Gaetz stems from a menacing tweet he sent on Feb. 27, the eve of Cohen's testimony before a House committee.
Gaetz wrote: "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 went viral. Legal experts compared it to intimidation of a witness. Walter Schaub, the former director of the Office of Government Ethics replied to Gaetz's tweet with the federal statute number for tampering with a witness. Sen. Rick Scott, a fellow Florida Republican, called the tweet "disgusting."
Gaetz later said he "should have chosen words that better showed my intent. I'm sorry." However, he maintained that he was not attempting to threaten Cohen, who testified before Congress the day after Gaetz's tweet.
During Cohen's testimony, Gaetz was spotted in the hearing room staring down the witness and whispering to Republicans even though he wasn't a member of the committee meeting that day.
The grievance committee, which is similar to a grand jury, will assign the case to an investigator who will interview witnesses and review evidence. The investigator will then make a recommendation to the committee. It could take up to six months.
If the committee finds probable cause, a formal complaint will be filed with the Supreme Court of Florida for a trial.
Most cases are settled before it reaches the trial phase.
