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AUSTIN — Michael Avenatti, the lawyer representing one of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s accusers, said he has witnesses who can corroborate her story and will bring them forward soon.

At about the same time on Friday that the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Kavanaugh's appointment, Avenatti spoke at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin. He's best known for representing Stephanie Clifford, the porn actress who goes by the name Stormy Daniels who has said President Donald Trump had an affair with her.

On Friday, Avenatti talked about the allegations against Kavanaugh and took several shots at Republicans.

Michael Avenatti, the lawyer representing one of Brett Kavanaugh's accusers, spoke at the Texas Tribune Festival on Friday. (Brianna Stone / DMN)

In a sworn statement released this week, his client Julie Swetnick accused Kavanaugh of drugging women at parties in the early 1980s so they could be used for “gang rapes.”

“We’ve been asking for an FBI investigation and for my client to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, but the requests have been ignored,” Avenatti said. “I know the identities of witnesses Julie said could corroborate her story, and I’m going to bring them forward soon.”

"Soon" means within the next 72 hours, he said.

A vote by the full Senate on Kavanaugh’s confirmation will be delayed up to a week after Senate leaders and Trump agreed Friday to a request by committee member Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., to have the FBI investigate claims against the nominee. It was not clear whether the investigation would include allegations other than those made by Christine Blasey Ford, who testified before the committee on Thursday.

The Los Angeles-based Avenatti said he believes that all of the women who have accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct are telling the truth and that Kavanaugh should not be confirmed. He said Kavanaugh deserves an Oscar for his testimony and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina — who has derided Avenatti as a “lawyer to porn stars” — deserves best supporting actor.

“The Republican Party believes in one thing above all else: winning,” Avenatti said. “At all costs. They don’t care how they win, what rules they break along the way, the ethical norms. It’s pathetic.”

He criticized Texas' Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn for participating in the tactics to push Kavanaugh forward.

The audience hissed and booed at the names of Cornyn and Cruz and was louder when Trump was mentioned.

Avenatti again said he is considering running for president in 2020.

“The stakes have never been higher,” he said. “We have to beat Trump because we cannot afford another four years. If not me, then someone else needs to.”

During the question-and-answer portion of the event, state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, asked Avenatti if he would return to Texas in October on the date Trump is scheduled to visit to campaign for Cruz, who is in a tight re-election battle with Democrat Beto O’Rourke.

“Hell, yes,” Avenatti said.