Wednesday Open Thread | Republican congressman Matt Gaetz sends apparent threat to Michael Cohen

Posted on February 27, 2019 by SouthernGirl2

WASHINGTON – One of President Donald Trump’s fiercest allies in the House of Representatives posted a tweet Tuesday that many are calling a direct threat to Michael Cohen ahead of his public testimony before Congress on Wednesday.

Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz posted on Twitter that Cohen’s wife was “about to learn a lot” about him and accused the former Trump attorney and fixer of being unfaithful in his marriage.

“Hey @MichaelCohen212 – Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends?” Gaetz wrote on Twitter. “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…”

Cohen spent Tuesday behind closed doors testifying to the Senate Intelligence Committee. He will appear before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday in a public appearance that’s expected to revolve around the president’s alleged infidelities, businesses and finances.

When asked by reporters on Capitol Hill about the tweet, Gaetz denied that the post was a threat or attempt to intimidate Cohen.

“This isn’t witness tampering, it’s witness testing,” he told reporters outside his office. “When people like Michael Cohen, who’s about to go to prison for lying, come before the Congress, there’s an enhanced responsibility on the part of members of Congress to test that veracity, to test the truthfulness and character of the witness, and I think we ought to do it with great vigor.” .

Gaetz did not elaborate on his allegations that Cohen had an affair, which hasn’t been previously reported, or where he obtained this information, only saying that reporters should tune in during Wednesday’s hearing.

“I also trust that his constituents will not appreciate that their congressman has set a new low — which in today’s political culture is hard to imagine as possible,” Davis added.

Those on Twitter, including members of Congress, reacted quickly, many pointing that the comments could be seen as intimidating a witness and witness tampering.

Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-New Jersey, said the tweet warranted an investigation by the House Ethics Committee.

“One of my colleagues, a duly elected member of Congress, has taken to twitter to intimidate a witness,” Pascrell, Jr.‏ wrote. “This is grossly unethical and probably illegal (18 USC § 1512(b)). House Ethics must investigate this disgrace and stain on our institution.”

The statute Pascrell, Jr.‏ noted in his tweet is the law that states intimidating a witness is illegal.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, said Gaetz’s tweet seemed like something “out of a Mob novel” not from a member of Congress.

“That’s the sort of behavior that’s sadly become normalized in the last two years,” Coons told CNN. “I think that would previously be considered absolutely shocking for a congressman to publicly engage in sort of badgering a witness in advance of their appearing.”

About SouthernGirl2

A Native Texan who adores baby kittens, loves horses, rodeos, pomegranates, & collect Eagles. Enjoys politics, games shows, & dancing to all types of music. Loves discussing and learning about different cultures. A Phi Theta Kappa lifetime member with a passion for Social & Civil Justice.
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49 Responses to Wednesday Open Thread | Republican congressman Matt Gaetz sends apparent threat to Michael Cohen

  5. rikyrah says:
    February 27, 2019 at 4:12 pm

    Stacey Plaskett is all of us looking at Jim Jordan, the last person who should address anyone’s character pic.twitter.com/z2fKUVHwYa— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 27, 2019

    Reply
  6. rikyrah says:
    February 27, 2019 at 4:09 pm

    If @AOC conducted herself in the flailing, shouting way Jim Jordan did today, we’d be drowning in hot takes about whether women have the temperament to serve in Congress.— Max Burns (@themaxburns) February 27, 2019

    Reply
  7. rikyrah says:
    February 27, 2019 at 2:21 pm

    They.got.PAID!!!!

    An arbitrator has ordered Fox to pay $179 million to profit participants in the long-running drama series “Bones,” finding that top executives lowballed revenue from the show and gave false testimony.

    In his ruling, arbitrator Peter Lichtman blasted several Fox executives by name, including Dana Walden, Gary Newman and Peter Rice, saying they gave “false testimony in an attempt to conceal their wrongful acts.” Lichtman held that Fox engaged “intentional acts of fraud and malice,” and showed a “cavalier attitude” toward the company’s wrongdoing.

    The case is the latest in a long line of self-dealing lawsuits in which profit participants assert that the network did not pay market rates to license the show because it was produced by a corporate sibling, 20th Century Fox Television.

    Lichtman awarded a whopping $128 million in punitive damages, finding the high amount “necessary to punish Fox for its reprehensible conduct and deter it from future wrongful conduct.”

    In a statement, 21st Century Fox strongly denied the allegations leveled against its executives by Lichtman and said it would appeal the decision.

    Reply
  8. rikyrah says:
    February 27, 2019 at 1:58 pm

    The only thing more dangerous than someone who has nothing to lose is someone with receipts who has nothing to lose. #CohenHearing— shauna (@goldengateblond) February 27, 2019

    Reply
  12. Ametia says:
    February 27, 2019 at 11:03 am

    Word of the Day : February 27, 2019-

    OUR FAVORITE WORD for Pols & journos!

    Grift: verb GRIFT

    Definition
    1 : to obtain (money) illicitly (as in a confidence game)

    2 : to acquire money or property illicitly

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/grift-2019-02-27?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=g&file=grift001&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=wotd&utm_content=pron

    Reply
  15. rikyrah says:
    February 27, 2019 at 8:34 am

    Ok,

    About this Chicago Mayoral race.

    From the beginning, people thought that this was Preckwinkle’s race to lose, after all, she is President of the Cook County Board. But, she made several mistakes that damaged her ‘brand’, the top two being trying to knock out all the women in the race by challenging their petitions. The second being getting caught up the Ed Burke criminal nonsense.
    Those two things took enough wings out of her sail that made her vulnerable.

    But, folks thought that the other candidate would be Daley, who raise almost 9 million dollars.

    I liked Lightfoot.Went to her website, read up on her, liked her story and how she got to the point where she ran for Mayor.

    Lightfoot got the Northside and the gay community behind her candidacy.
    Preckwinkle had the residual effect of her tax policies, that pissed off the Black community, which is why Willie Wilson made such a strong showing, and actually came in fourth place – off the backs of strong support in the Black wards. A lot of Black folks, like myself, had never really gotten past how Preckwinkle got into office in the first place – by demonizing the Black President of the County Board – Todd Stroger- about a small tax that he enacted to balance the budget. She ran on that that tax was the worst thing ever, and then, after she won…
    SHE KEPT THE PHUCKING TAX. And, it wasn’t bad enough that she defeated Stroger (who wasn’t even my favorite person), she also blackballed him.

    Then, there was the beverage tax that she instituted. It was absolutely outrageous, hit the average person hard, and ultimately had to be repealed.

    Lightfoot came in 6th place in fundraising, but, you got a feeling about those committed to her. ..they were really committed.

    So, here we are…
    Lightfoot, who is a newcomer and really did shock folks…. versus Preckwinkle…the Boss you know, but aren’t that enthused about…..

    It’s not like Lightfoot is a bumpkin…she’s a well-educated woman with a professional life in public service whose roots are from the working class. ..don’t let anyone tell you that she’s unqualified.

    Neither Lightfoot or Preckwinkle live in the ‘ traditional’ South Side enclaves of the Black community. Preckwinkle is Hyde Park, and Lightfoot lives on the North Side.
    And, both women are inter-racially married.

    Reply
  16. rikyrah says:
    February 27, 2019 at 7:04 am

    geo (@delgeo1) Tweeted:
    Matt Gaetz is a licensed attorney in Florida. His Bar Number is 48962. He violated 18 U.S.C. § 1512. This is also grounds for disbarment
    Feel free call the Florida Bar and file an official complaint. The number is 1-866-352-0707 #FBI #WitnessTampering

    https://t.co/AryYAlUtk0 https://twitter.com/delgeo1/status/1100556960674525185?s=17

    Reply
    • Ametia says:
      February 27, 2019 at 10:56 am

      I’m sure they have. And because your ass is representing a district and you are charged with serving the citizens of said district,

      YOUR ASS NEEDS TO BEGONE!

      Reply
  35. rikyrah says:
    February 27, 2019 at 3:31 am

    Good Morning, Everyone 😄😄😄

    Reply

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