Rep. Matt Gaetz revealed to Fox News’ Martha MacCallum that he was on the phone with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and not President Donald Trump as was first reported by The Atlantic’s
Talking with @marthamaccallum, @RepMattGaetz says he was *not* talking to Trump in 'I was happy to do it for you' phone call. Was actually talking to FL Gov DeSantis about recommendation to Orlando Airport Board, Gaetz said.
— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 2, 2019
On February 28, Edward-Isaac Dovere reported that Rep. Gaetz was on the phone with the president and he said, “I was happy to do it for you” in regard to the Florida congressman’s attack on Michael Cohen’s family:
President Trump called @mattgaetz last night from Hanoi to talk the Cohen testimony and the threats (since rescinded) Gaetz made about Cohen.
"I was happy to do it for you. You just keep killing it," Gaetz was heard telling him.
(Gaetz told me he doesn't discuss calls w/POTUS)— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) February 28, 2019
Rep. Gaetz pushed back on the report on that day, but he didn’t reveal publicly who he was on the phone with:
‘Hilariously false’: Matt Gaetz disputes report that he talked with President Trump about his tweet attacking Michael Cohen https://t.co/KHuC36azOy
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) February 28, 2019
But in a tweet on Friday, Rep. Gaetz says he and Gov. DeSantis told The Atlantic that they were on the phone together:
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This reporting is #FakeNews. @GovRonDeSantis & I told @TheAtlantic that we were on the phone with each other discussing appointments. He called at 8:37pm and we were on the phone for 13 minutes. Dovere reports I was taking to POTUS just before 9pm. Still no retraction. https://t.co/lOH1Uf7YwV
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) March 2, 2019
And Rep. Gaetz is encouraging Florida journos to check out his story with the governor:
Surely the Florida press corps will seek to confirm with @GovRonDeSantis the version of events I explained on @marthamaccallum. Right? @christinesexton @MarcACaputo @anaceballos_ @mikevansickler @bsfarrington
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) March 2, 2019
And it looks like Gov. DeSantis is backing him up:
So @RonDeSantisFL’s office confirmed to me earlier today that at 8:37 pm Weds the gov called U & had an animated conversation re: an Orlando aviation appointment. The conversation took approximately 13 minutes. As for more specific wording, we’re waiting on confirmation
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) March 2, 2019
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