UPDATE: Avenatti Referred for Additional Investigation
WASHINGTON – 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.