Pelosi sent Gaetz a warning

[struggle4progress]

... “I encourage all Members to be mindful that comments made on social media or in the press can adversely affect the ability of House Committees to obtain the truthful and complete information necessary to fulfill their duties,” Speaker Pelosi said via Twitter Tuesday evening ...

Last week Speaker Pelosi took to Twitter to specifically warn Members of Congress about efforts to silence Michael Cohen, before his House Oversight and Intelligence Committees testimony.

“Congress has an independent duty under the Constitution to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch, and any efforts to intimidate family members or pressure witnesses will not be tolerated,” the Speaker wrote ...

Gaetz is one pf President Trump’s top defenders in Congress. He is also anti-LGBT, racist, a supporter of the alt-right, and a conspiracy theorist ...

https://www.alternet.org/2019/02/nancy-pelosi-just-sent-a-stern-warning-to-matt-gaetz-after-his-threatening-tweet-to-michael-cohen/

[watoos]

1. He belongs to the Freedumb caucus,

that says it all.

[struggle4progress]

2. Every law professor with Twitter Account says Gaetz witness tampering

By MATTHEW DESSEM
FEB 26, 20198:35 PM

~snip ~

Does your personal attorney know you’ve just engaged, very clearly, in the crime of witness tampering? Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat.

~snip ~

Do you know about 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b), which prohibits tampering with witnesses to official proceedings?

~snip ~

I don't think that such comments on Twitter would be protected by legislative immunity even if they could be privileged if uttered on the House floor.

~snip ~

@mattgaetz is a disgusting excuse for a human being. He’s also engaged in criminal witness tampering in plain sight. No immunity is available. He deserves to be indicted, and of course needs to be kicked out of Congress.

~snip ~

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/02/gaetz-cohen-tweet-law-professors-witness-tampering-testing.html?via=recirc_recent

[struggle4progress]

3. Gaetz claims tweet "absolutely not" a threat

By Robin Bravender -February 26, 2019

... Gaetz’s Tweet drew an immediate comment from Walter Shaub, former director of the federal Office of Government Ethics and others who questioned whether Gaetz had committed a crime by threatening a federal witness. Shaub cited a federal law that protects the speech of members of Congress during official proceedings but does not protect outside statements.

Twitter users by the tens of thousands responded in outrage to Gaetz’s tweet, with comments ranging from hilarious to furious to profane. One included a picture of Gaetz taken at a school function where a young girl in the crowd directly behind him was hoisting her middle finger. Many urged that Gaetz resign and face prosecution for tampering with a witness.

https://www.floridaphoenix.com/2019/02/26/opposite-land-u-s-rep-matt-gaetz-tells-our-reporter-his-threatening-tweet-to-trump-lawyer-was-absolutely-not-intended-as-a-threat/

[struggle4progress]

4. 'Total gangster stuff'

written by Matthew Chapman
February 27, 2019

... “Absolutely, it’s total gangster stuff,” said Toobin. “The problem with pursuing that in some sort of law enforcement context is that the president has tweeted worse things about Michael Cohen. He’s threatened Michael Cohen’s father-in-law with prosecution. And whatever else you think of Gaetz the congressman, he’s not in charge of the Justice Department. The president is in charge of the Justice Department and has threatened Cohen’s father-in-law with prosecution. So, the sort of Colombo/Genovese approach to this whole relationship with Michael Cohen is consistent across the president and his allies” ...

https://www.alternet.org/2019/02/total-gangster-stuff-cnn-legal-analyst-slams-matt-gaetzs-threatening-tweet-to-cohen-but-says-trump-has-done-worse/

[struggle4progress]

5. Pelosi: ethics panel should monitor social media

BY MORGAN GSTALTER - 02/26/19 07:42 PM EST

... The Ethics Committee should monitor statements “which may not be protected by the speech or debate clause,” Pelosi said without naming a lawmaker.

Her statement linked back to her Feb. 20 tweet announcing that Cohen would testify despite his claims that Trump was trying to intimidate him ...

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/431740-pelosi-says-ethics-committee-should-vigilantly-monitor-social-media-statements

[forklift]

6. I hope she fries Gaetz's ass

and sends the evidence to Mueller.

[ck4829]

7. K&R