Kavanaugh confirmation: Sen. Chuck Grassley asks DOJ to investigate Michael Avenatti and Julie Swetnick

Bart Jansen | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Sen. Grassley calls for Julie Swetnick, Michael Avenatti to be investigated Senate chairman Chuck Grassley asked the Justice Department to investigate Julie Swetnick and Michael Avenatti for "grave allegations against Judge Kavanaugh" that may be false.

WASHINGTON – A key Senate chairman asked the Justice Department on Thursday to investigate Julie Swetnick and her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, for allegedly false statements made during the confirmation process for Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the FBI to investigate potential conspiracy, false statements and obstruction of Congress. Grassley said it was a request for investigation and not a criminal allegation.

Avenatti welcomed further investigation.

“Senator Grassley has just made a major mistake," Avenatti said. "Let the investigation into Kavanaugh and his lies begin.”

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. — Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) October 25, 2018

Swetnick was one of three women who accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct during high school and college before the Senate confirmed him Oct. 6.

Within her written statement submitted Sept. 26 to the Judiciary Committee, Swetnick said that Kavanaugh would "cause girls to become inebriated and disoriented so they could then be 'gang raped' in a side room or bedroom by a 'train' of numerous boys" during the early 1980s while students were in high school or college.

Kavanaugh vehemently denied the charges, which he called a “farce” and a “circus,” during a committee hearing Sept. 28.

Grassley said Thursday that subsequent contradictions and suspicious timing of the allegations required a criminal investigation.

During an Oct. 1 interview with NBC News, Swetnick back-tracked or contradicted key parts of her testimony, Grassley said.

In subsequent interviews, Avenatti likewise cast serious doubt on or contradicted the allegations while insisting that he had thoroughly vetted his client, Grassley said.

“When a well-meaning citizen comes forward with information relevant to the committee’s work, I take it seriously,” Grassley said. “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.”