The Tampa Bay Times reports:
An investigation into U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz will proceed, the Florida Bar said Wednesday, meaning the Panhandle Republican could face discipline for allegedly intimidating President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen. A grand jury-like 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.
BREAKING: The Florida Bar has determined that further investigation into U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz is warranted for the Republican’s menacing tweet at Michael Cohen. The case now moves into a grand jury-like phase.https://t.co/PjIUptpoa1
— Steve Contorno (@scontorno) May 8, 2019
The association, as the highest governing body over licensed lawyers in Florida, was tasked with investigating dozens of complaints issued by Florida lawyers against Gaetz, including intimidation of a witness.https://t.co/T1QBD67i95
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 8, 2019
“Congressman Gaetz remains confident that the Florida Bar will not impair his vigorous and successful representation of his district,” Rep. Matt Gaetz’s spokeswoman tells me — https://t.co/FLhRniz06Z — @dcexaminer
— Daniel Chaitin (@danielchaitin7) May 8, 2019
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz is now being investigated for witness intimidation over Cohen tweethttps://t.co/TZCjD9YgoV
— Creative Loafing (@cl_tampabay) May 8, 2019