Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is the subject of a probe into his tweets about Michael Cohen by the Florida state bar.
The association, as the highest governing body over licensed lawyers in Florida, has been tasked with investigating dozens of complaints issued by Florida lawyers against Gaetz, including intimidation of a witness.
The association’s webpage has a link where individuals can file complaints about lawyers registered with the Florida state bar. On the complaint sheet, the association acknowledges the multitude of complaints against Gaetz, saying they are “quite aware of the comments made in a tweet yesterday by Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is a Florida Bar member, and we have opened an investigation.”
“If rules have been violated, The Florida Bar will vigorously pursue appropriate discipline by the Florida Supreme Court,” a Florida state bar spokesperson said in a statement. “The Florida Bar takes its responsibility of regulating lawyer conduct very seriously.”
Gaetz said that he was not made aware by any Florida state bar official about the inquiry. He apologized Tuesday night for the tweet but maintained that it was not his intention to threaten Cohen in any way.
Guidelines published by the Florida Bar stipulate that if the committee has enough information on possible ethics violations, it will launch an investigation to be conducted by lawyers hired by the Florida Bar. The investigation goes up to Florida’s Supreme Court, which will have the final say on if any sanctions, including disbarment, are appropriate.
