Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., was observed discussing his threatening tweet about Michael Cohen with President Trump Wednesday evening.
According to Edward-Isaac Dovere, a staff writer at the Atlantic, Gaetz spoke to the president, who was in Hanoi, Vietnam for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, over the phone.
“I was happy to do it for you. You just keep killing it,” Gaetz was overhead saying.
President Trump called @mattgaetz last night from Hanoi to talk the Cohen testimony and the threats (since rescinded) Gaetz made about Cohen.
“I was happy to do it for you. You just keep killing it,” Gaetz was heard telling him.
(Gaetz told me he doesn’t discuss calls w/POTUS)— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) February 28, 2019
A Gaetz spokesperson did not immediately respond for comment. The congressman told Dovere that he doesn’t discuss his conversations with the president.
Gaetz responded to Dovere’s tweet about the phone conversation, calling it fake news.
#FakeNews https://t.co/oKwTaMgdTe
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) February 28, 2019
The night before Cohen’s testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, Gaetz asked Cohen on Twitter, “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 later deleted the tweet and apologized for comments many regarded as threatening to Cohen. Gaetz’s apology came in response to a statement from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., that admonished Gaetz for his comments and suggested they be examined by the House Ethics Committee.
During the hearing, which Gaetz attended although he is not a member of the oversight panel, it was reported that the congressman became the subject of a probe into his tweets about Cohen by the Florida state bar.
In the evening Wednesday, Gaetz tweeted that he apologized to Cohen. “Regardless of disagreements, family members should be off-limits from attacks from representatives, senators & presidents, including myself. Let’s leave the Cohen family alone,” he said.
I’ve personally apologized to @MichaelCohen212 4 referencing his private family in the public square. Regardless of disagreements, family members should be off-limits from attacks from representatives, senators & presidents, including myself. Let’s leave the Cohen family alone.
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) February 28, 2019
In a follow-up tweet, Dovere said Gaetz’s tweet about the Cohen apology came after the phone call with Trump.
Despite Gaetz’s protestations throughout the day, including a demand for proof of the call, Dovere did not walk back or retract his side of the story as of midnight.
Editor’s note: Rep. Matt Gaetz said during a Fox News interview on Friday night his phone call on Wednesday was with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, not President Trump, and that his comment “happy to do it for you comment” had nothing to do with Michael Cohen.
