Republican Congressman Deletes Tweet Targeting Michael Cohen’s Family

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) speaks during a news conference in front of the Capitol December 6, 2017 in Washington, DC. Image by Alex Wong/Getty Images

By Josh Nathan-Kazis February 27, 2019

A Republican congressman accused former President Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen of adultery on Tuesday, on the eve of Cohen’s testimony before the House Oversight Committee, in a Twitter message that seemed an attempt to frighten the onetime Trump consigliere.

“Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends? Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat,” tweeted Matt Gaetz, a Republican congressman from Florida. “I wonder if she’ll remain faithful when you’re in prison. She’s about to learn a lot…”

Gaetz deleted the tweet and apologized late Tuesday night, claiming he had not meant to threaten Cohen.

The tweets targeted Cohen’s father-in-law, Fima Shusterman, whose reported loans to the largest taxi cab operator in Chicago were reportedly cited in warrants used to search Cohen’s office.

Trump himself has previously tweeted insinuating claims about Shusterman.

Kevin Corke, @FoxNews “Don’t forget, Michael Cohen has already been convicted of perjury and fraud, and as recently as this week, the Wall Street Journal has suggested that he may have stolen tens of thousands of dollars….” Lying to reduce his jail time! Watch father-in-law!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2019

Shusterman emigrated from the Ukraine in 1975, working as a taxi driver and eventually amassing a number of taxi medallions in New York City, according to the New York Times. Shusterman helped Cohen enter the taxi medallion industry, according to the Times report.

An article in Slate collected tweets from legal experts arguing that Gaetz’s tweets amounted to witness tampering.

Contact Josh Nathan-Kazis at [email protected] or on Twitter, @joshnathankazis

Josh Nathan-Kazis is a staff writer for the Forward. He covers charities and politics, and writes investigations and longform.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO