Ryan Nicol
The Florida Bar has confirmed it has a file open regarding Rep. Matt Gaetz‘ conduct during the House impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump.
The news comes one day after the Miami-Dade Democratic Party announced they had filed a complaint of their own. The complaint alleged Gaetz violated Florida Bar rules by attempting to barge into closed hearings during the House investigation.
A Florida Bar spokesperson said they had not yet received the complaint from the Miami-Dade Democrats. That complaint was initiated by Party Chair Steve Simeonidis.
But because a separate file has already been opened, the spokesperson explained the body will not be acting on Simeonidis’ complaint either way.
“He will be getting a letter from us saying we are already aware of the issue that he reported, have a file open regarding those circumstances and that an additional complaint is not something we can accept.”
That spokesperson said the open file could be closed as soon as this month. The complainant which triggered the active file cannot be revealed by the Bar until the file is closed.
Prior to Trump’s impeachment, the House assigned a group of committees to investigate his actions regarding Ukraine.
As part of the investigation, those committees interviewed witnesses. The interviews were open to those committees only, though Democrats and Republicans sat on each committee.
But reports show multiple instances where Gaetz attempted to enter the restricted interview hearings.
In one attempt, two dozen Republicans tried to enter a secure hearing room to interrupt the deposition of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper. Republicans protested what they called a “Soviet-style process” despite, again, several Republicans on the relevant committees being welcome to hear the testimony and ask questions.
CNN’s Manu Raju reported Gaetz led that stunt.
In a separate instance, Gaetz was kicked out of a closed-door interview with Fiona Hill, who served as a White House advisor on Russia.
Hill was testifying to the House Intelligence, Oversight, and Foreign Affairs committees. Gaetz doesn’t sit on any of those committees.
In 2019, Gaetz faced a separate Bar complaint after threatening to expose dirt on Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen ahead of Cohen’s testimony in the House. The Bar eventually dismissed the complaint. But the review panel did note in its findings that Gaetz was “unprofessional, reckless, insensitive, and demonstrated poor judgment.”
8 comments
Gregory K Hepler
February 7, 2020 at 8:28 pm
Well junior we have to do things to combat your authoritarian little groups ,what you and others need to understand is their is a large majority of Americans that are fed up with the democratic party and we keep a close eye on it,using the law to spread hate is not going to fly much longer.
Sharon C Boyd
February 8, 2020 at 8:14 am
You are so RIGHT! The Demoncrats have been exposed & now they are trying to cover up by going after the Trump defenders. Beware becuz the voters could be next.
Barbara
February 7, 2020 at 9:11 pm
This is encouraging. More complaints must be filed against republican reps & Senators who are lawyers & against the trump & WH lawyers who flagrantly misled and lied to the American public about trump’s machinations before, during & after the impeachment sham-trial. There is a Code of Professional Responsibility that all lawyers MUST follow. And if these miscreants will not act honorably and ethically in their roles as Senators, reps, or counsel, then go after their law licenses. Their conduct is inexcusable & 100% unacceptable. Do not despair if one complaint results only in a letter of reprimand or a suspension. With each infraction (and there’s no doubt that with these lawyers, there will be more ethical breaches)– it’s really important to file more complaints. Eventually, licenses will be pulled. Let’s clean house.
Sharon C Boyd
February 8, 2020 at 8:19 am
So you think the Demoncrats have acted professionally. Schiff, Pelosi, Nadler & The Squad should all be horse whipped. They have lied & stolen from all the Americans. We can’t stand their nonsense except when they Lost again. Trump wl be be re elected & the Demoncrats wl go 🏡! Thank God Nov. 2020 is almost here! Trump2020…
gary
February 8, 2020 at 2:10 pm
Matt is such a badass… he will be president one day! He has the Trump effect on demoRATS!
Public
February 10, 2020 at 7:04 am
Retaliation for competent zealous representation?
Matt appears to be a truth seeker but he must remain cool, calm and above all vigilant to the bait traps from rivals that want to destroy truth. Peace
rogerclem
February 10, 2020 at 8:45 am
If you back Matt Gaetz then you are part of the problem. Its obvious he broke the rules, he should be disbarred!
William Windsor
February 10, 2020 at 11:12 am
I was a Rockefeller and even a Nixon Republican many years ago but I am now an Independent. I was even involved in revitalizing the College Republicans at the University of Florida in the mid 70s. That said, concerning the issue of Mr.Matt Gaetz’s conduct and the Florida Bar complaint against him, all that I can say is Good Luck.
President Trump’s actions are probably Criminal, but should he have been Impeached? The Democrats certainly believed so and they tried to do so. At this point the Democrats need to put up a candidate that can beat Trump. I do not believe that Mr. Bernie Sanders has a chance against Trump. Their only chance is Mr. Joseph Biden, in my humble opinion.
I will probably “sit out” the 2020 election but if I do vote it will definitely be for the Donald as he is publicly supportive of the Pro-Life movement. I am a Born-Again Christian. In any event, I will put my $5.00 on Mr.Trump against anyone’s $7,000,000.00 on the Democratic candidate. Mr. Trump has already won a second term of office. “It’s the Economy stupid”, as they say.
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