UPDATE: Avenatti Referred for Additional Investigation

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley today submitted a Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley today submitted a second referral to the Justice Department and FBI following a news report yesterday that cast doubt on the veracity of allegations in a second sworn statement provided by Michael Avenatti to the committee.

Avenatti submitted an anonymous declaration on October 2, 2018, purporting to corroborate allegations raised by Julie Swetnick. However, according to yesterday’s news report, the declarant denied making the key allegations, saying that Avenatti “twisted [her] words.”

Grassley is referring Avenatti for investigation of potential violations of the same statutes noted in yesterday’s criminal referral. More on yesterday’s referral is available here

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