Rick Scott calls "disgusting" Gaetz's tweet threatening Cohen

Florida Sen. Rick Scott (right) said it was "disgusting" for his Republican colleague, the representative. Matt GaetzMatthew (Matt) GaetzGOP Representative: I "personally apologized" to Cohen for "referring to his private family in the public square". Cohen says Trump Florida State Bar investigated Matt Gaetz for threatening Michael Cohen MORE (Florida) to send a tweet seemingly threatening Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, the night before Mr. Cohen's testimony in Congress.

Scott, the former governor of Florida, told The Tampa Bay Times that Gaetz's actions this week were "embarrassing."

"We should not do this stuff here. You may not like what someone is going to say, but you should not try to intimidate them or protect their family, that's wrong, "Scott said. "I think it's disgusting and I'm glad he apologized."

Scott was referring to a tweet on Tuesday that Gaetz had questioned Cohen's loyalty to his wife a day before his appearance before the House Oversight and Reform Committee.

"Hey @ MichaelCohen212 – Are your wife and stepfather aware of your girlfriends?" Writes Gaetz in the tweet now removed. "Maybe tonight would be a good time for this cat. I wonder if she will remain faithful when you are in prison. She is about to learn a lot …

Gaetz, a loyal ally of the president and critic of Scott, has been widely criticized for his remarks, which many have condemned for intimidating witnesses.

The Florida Bar confirmed Wednesday that he had opened an investigation Gaetz, a licensed attorney in the state, broke the rules of professional conduct with his tweet.

Gaetz apologized publicly on Wednesday saying, "It was NOT my intention to threaten [Cohen]as some believe. "

He told Tampa Bay Times that he had contacted Cohen via SMS.

"I told him that I was sorry and that I should not have talked about his family," Gaetz said. "He appreciated that I recognized this mistake on my part. He asked me to publicly ask people to leave his family alone and I thought it was a fair request. "

Cohen testified publicly before the House Watch and Reform Committee on Wednesday, during which Trump's former lawyer made a number of explosive statements about Trump's behavior during the election campaign and at the office.