Steve Cohen, U.S. Congressman representing Tennessee’s 9th district since 2007, posted a series of tweets in early October 2025 addressing topics ranging from tributes to Jane Goodall to the federal government shutdown and calls for transparency regarding the Epstein files.
On October 2, 2025, Cohen paid tribute to renowned primatologist Jane Goodall. He wrote, “Jane Goodall was one of the greatest friends nature ever had. Her work researching chimpanzees changed our understanding primatology, conservation and ethics.
I was pleased to meet her when she visited the Memphis Zoo and thought of her often when I visited Rwanda. The world https://t.co/ibPBPhcgis“
Later that day, Cohen addressed the ongoing federal government shutdown by announcing his decision regarding congressional pay. On October 2, he tweeted: “I’m deferring my pay for the duration of the shutdown.
Thousands of people in Memphis & TN9 are going to be impacted—from federal employees and servicemembers to contractors & middle-class families who keep our city running.
If they aren’t getting paid because of the GOP https://t.co/hkwmJTYd32“
On October 4, Cohen commented on renewed public interest in releasing documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. He stated: “They’re Back! And not going away from American’s desire to free the Epstein files!! https://t.co/e69bNgWIaO”
Cohen has represented Tennessee’s 9th District in Congress since replacing Harold Ford Jr. in 2007 and previously served two decades in the Tennessee Senate. Born in Memphis in 1949 and currently residing there at age 73, Cohen is an alumnus of Vanderbilt University (BA) and holds a JD from the University of Memphis.
