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Breaking: Avenatti Referred to DOJ for Criminal Conspiracy Investigation

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Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley referred attorney Michael Avenatti and his client Julie Swetnick to the Justice Department on Thursday for criminal investigation relating to a “potential conspiracy to provide materially false statements to Congress” regarding now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

news release from the Judiciary Committee stated, in part, “While the Committee was in the middle of its extensive investigation of the late-breaking sexual-assault allegations made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford against Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh, Avenatti publicized his client’s allegations of drug- and alcohol-fueled gang rapes in the 1980s.

“The obvious, subsequent contradictions along with the suspicious timing of the allegations necessitate a criminal investigation by the Justice Department.”

Grassley explained that Avenatti and Swetnick’s actions wasted the committee’s time and appeared to be in violation of the law, which prohibits making false statements and obstructing congressional committee investigations.

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“(I)n the heat of partisan moments, some do try to knowingly mislead the committee,” he said. “That’s unfair to my colleagues, the nominees and others providing information who are seeking the truth. It stifles our ability to work on legitimate lines of inquiry. It also wastes time and resources for destructive reasons.”

“Thankfully, the law prohibits such false statements to Congress and obstruction of congressional committee investigations,” Grassley continued. “For the law to work, we can’t just brush aside potential violations. I don’t take lightly making a referral of this nature, but ignoring this behavior will just invite more of it in the future.”

The news release highlighted that Swetnick’s allegations about Kavanaugh being present at parties when there were gang rapes and his being involved in spiking punch to make women more susceptible to sexual advances, made in a sworn statement to the Committee, had “serious credibility problems.”

“In an October 1 interview with NBC News … Swetnick specifically and explicitly back-tracked or contradicted key parts of her sworn statement on these and other allegations,” the release stated. “In subsequent interviews, Avenatti likewise cast serious doubt on or contradicted the allegations while insisting that he had thoroughly vetted his client.”

Do you think Avenatti should be prosecuted and lose his license to practice law?

In his referral letter to the DOJ, Grassley recounted that his committee staff interviewed 10 of Swetnick’s associates trying to corroborate her claims.

Avenatti responded to the criminal referral, tweeting that he and his client welcome a criminal investigation.

“It is ironic that Senator Grassley now is interested in investigations. He didn’t care when it came to putting a man on the SCOTUS for life. We welcome the investigation as now we can finally get to the bottom of Judge Kavanaugh’s lies and conduct. Let the truth be known,” he wrote.

He added a subsequent tweet: “Maybe if Grassley was actually a lawyer that knew something about the law, he would realize what he has done. He just opened up Pandora’s box as it relates to Justice Kavanaugh’s conduct. It is Christmas in October!”

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Federal Court Hands Disgraced Attorney Michael Avenatti Painful News

The Washington Examiner reported Kavanaugh categorically denied Swetnick’s claims calling them a “joke” and a “farce.”

Kavanaugh was ultimately confirmed by the Senate in a 50-48 vote, which fell along party lines, with a few exceptions.

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Randy DeSoto has written more than 2,000 articles for The Western Journal since he joined the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto is the senior staff writer for The Western Journal. He wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




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