Matt Gaetz says he's apologized to Michael Cohen for his girlfriend's tweet and wants to leave his family "alone"

The Florida representative, Matt Gaetz, said Wednesday he apologized to Michael Cohen, following his tweet removed the previous day, suggesting that former President Trump's lawyer had been unfaithful to his wife.

"I personally apologized for @ MichaelCohen212 4 referring to his private family in the public square," Gaetz said. tweeted. "Regardless of disagreements, family members should be protected from attacks by representatives, senators and presidents, including myself. Let the Cohen family alone. "

The Republican legislator's comment was a flip-flop from his initial tweet directed to Cohen, who asked if his "wife and stepfather knew about your friends?"

FLORIDA BAR OPENS AN INQUEST IN REP. GAETZ'S S TWEET ABOUT MICHAEL COHEN

"Maybe tonight would be a good time for this cat. I wonder if she will remain faithful when you are in prison. She's about to learn a lot … ", he continues.

He posted this remark while Cohen was at Capitol Hill on Tuesday for the first of a series of hearings this week.

On Wednesday, Cohen testified at a public hearing before the House Oversight Committee. He also testified on Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee and on Thursday he is scheduled to appear before the House Intelligence Committee.

Cohen was sentenced in December to three years in prison for pleading guilty to violations of campaign financing, tax evasion and lying before Congress. He agreed to cooperate with prosecutors under an agreement.

Lanny J. Davis, who represents Cohen, criticized Gaetz's initial tweet at the time as a shameful lie that legislators would not like Floridians.

"We will not respond to Mr. Gaetz's lies or slanderous personal slander, except to say that we are convinced that his colleagues in the House, Republicans and Democrats, repudiate his words and conduct," Davis said in a statement to Fox News.

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Gaetz's act of contrition followed an apology he issued Tuesday night, after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned all MPs to be "attentive" to the media's comments. and the impact they may have on the work of House committees.

Gaetz at the time tweeted that it was not his "intention to threaten" by posting the controversial tweet. He added that he should better express his point of view.

Stephen Sorace and Alex Pappas of Fox News contributed to this report.