Sen. Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, is seeking criminal charges for one of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's accusers and her attorney on the grounds that they intentionally misled lawmakers.

Grassley accused Julie Swetnick and Michael Avenatti of wasting the committee's time with unsubstantiated 'gang rape' allegations in a lengthy referral to the Department of Justice.

'When charlatans make false claims to the Committee – claims that may earn them short-term media exposure and financial gain, but which hinder the Committee’s ability to do its job – there should be consequences,' the Iowa Republican harped.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, is seeking criminal charges for one of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's accusers and her attorney on the grounds that they intentionally mislead lawmakers

Grassley accused Julie Swetnick and Michael Avenatti of wasting the committee's time with unsubstantiated 'gang rape' allegations in a lengthy referral to the Department of Justice

BRING IT ON: Avenatti said a suit would open up 'Pandora's box' in the Kavanuagh case

Swetnick initially claimed that Kavanaugh attended a party where a train of men assaulted her. She claimed he was part of a group that surreptitiously spiked 'punch' at parties to 'cause girls to become inebriated and disoriented so they could then be gang raped' like she was.

She later walked back the claims, admitting that she cannot say for certain that Kavanaugh was part of, aware of or even witnessed the alleged sexual misconduct. She downgraded her claim about the punch bowl, as well. She says she saw him by the containers but doesn't know if he tampered with them.

Avenatti requested that his client, whose identity he kept a secret for days, be given an same opportunity to testify before the committee as Kavanaugh's original accuser.

Grassley says that committee staff sought to track down Swetnick's claims and wanted to interview her but Avenatti rejected an interview under those circumstances.

'The Committee is grateful to citizens who come forward with relevant information in good faith, even if they are not one hundred percent sure about what they know. But when individuals intentionally mislead the Committee, they divert Committee resources during time-sensitive investigations and materially impede our work. Such acts are not only unfair; they are potentially illegal,' Grassley wrote in the stinging DOJ referral.

Avenatti welcomed the threat of legal action, calling it 'Christmas in October' in a tweet that claimed Grassley had opened 'Pandora’s box' with his letter advising DOJ to prosecute.

'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,' the attorney who's openly considering a presidential bid tweeted.

Kavanaugh denied allegations of sexual assault from Swetnick and two other women under oath and in writing

Grassley alerted the media of the letter that he posted online alongside a statement.

The 85-year-old lawmaker said he takes all information 'seriously' that's provided by a 'well-meaning' citizen who comes forward with significant allegations. He noted that the committee heard testimony from Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford.

'It takes courage to come forward, especially with allegations of sexual misconduct or personal trauma. I’m grateful for those who find that courage,' Grassley wrote. 'But in the heat of partisan moments, some do try to knowingly mislead the committee. That’s unfair to my colleagues, the nominees and others providing information who are seeking the truth.'

He all but accused Swetnick and Avenatti of committing perjury in addition to potentially obstructing justice.

'Thankfully, the law prohibits such false statements to Congress and obstruction of congressional committee investigations. 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,' Grassley said.

Grassley told DOJ in his referral that the committee determined that Swetnick and Avenatti have long-standing credibility issues. He drudged up Avenatti's problems with the IRS and and failed business attempts and hammered Swetnick for changing stories about the behavior she may or may not have personally witnessed.

Swetnick, 55, claimed in a sworn statement that she'd seen Kavanaugh spike punch at parties in the 1980s, where women like herself were gang raped.

While at the parties, she told NBC News that Kavanaugh was often drunk and acted inappropriate toward women, 'pawing' at them, trying to 'shift' their clothing, and 'groping' them.

'I saw him push girls into walls,' she said in an interview. 'He would pretend to be drunk and stumble and push them against walls.'

She offered NBC a list of people who could back up her story — but several of them, including her mother and a police officer, are now deceased. Another alleged witness to the gang-rape didn't recall having met Swetnick.

Grassley in his letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Jeff Sessions said a sworn statement that Swetnick submitted to Congress 'likely contained materially false claims,' considering her admission to NBC later that she hadn't seen Kavanuagh personally engage in disturbing behavior.

'lt is illegal to knowingly and willfully make materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements to Congressional investigators. It is illegal to obstruct Committee investigations. It is illegal to conspire to do either of those things,' he told the law enforcement agency heads.

Avenatti has also said that Kavanaugh should sue his client and other women who have made accusations against him if he's innocent like he says he is

Avenatti responded: '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!'

The attorney who represented Stormy Daniels in her losing case against the president said, '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.'

Avenatti has also said that Kavanaugh, who denied all the sexual assault allegations against him in writing and under oath, should sue his client and other women who have made accusations against him for slander.

'If Brett Kavanaugh & his supporters are so convinced that all of the scores of women (inc my client) are lying, he is innocent, he has been so wronged, & his reputation has been damaged for no reason, then he should sue us all-TODAY,' Avanatti tweeted during the confirmation process. 'I hope that he does so we can prove the truth!'

Kavanaugh addressed the charge from Swetnick that he was aware of, and may have participated in, gang-rape when he was in high school at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at the end of September.

'This is ridiculous and from the Twilight Zone. I don’t know who this is and this never happened,' he said.

He claimed at the hearing that he was never sexually abusive to any woman, ever, and that he while he engaged in under age drinking he has never at any point in his life been blackout drunk.

Republican senators confirmed to the former federal judge to the Supreme Court with the assistance if a single Democrat nine days later.