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Swetnick, Avenatti Referred for Criminal Investigation: Providing False Statements, Obstructing Congressional Investigations, and Conspiracy All Violate Federal Law
9:52 AM - 25 Oct 2018
Chairman @ChuckGrassley today referred Julie Swetnick and her attorney Michael Avenatti to @TheJusticeDept for criminal investigation relating to a potential conspiracy to provide materially false statements to Congress and obstruct a congressional committee investigation.
9:55 AM - 25 Oct 2018
“When a well-meaning citizen comes forward with information relevant to the committee’s work, I take it seriously. It takes courage to come forward, especially with allegations of sexual misconduct or personal trauma. I’m grateful for those who find that courage.”—@ChuckGrassley
9:56 AM - 25 Oct 2018
“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. It stifles our ability to work on legitimate lines of inquiry.”—@ChuckGrassley
9:56 AM - 25 Oct 2018
“It also wastes time and resources for destructive reasons. 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.”—@ChuckGrassley
9:56 AM - 25 Oct 2018
“I don’t take lightly making a referral of this nature, but ignoring this behavior will just invite more of it in the future.”—@ChuckGrassley
9:56 AM - 25 Oct 2018
The letter notes potential violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371, 1001 and 1505, which respectively define the federal criminal offenses of conspiracy, false statements and obstruction of Congress.
9:57 AM - 25 Oct 2018
The referral methodically details the issues with Swetnick’s allegations as relayed by Avenatti, the immediate diversion of committee resources to investigate those allegations, the subsequent contradictions by both Swetnick and Avenatti,...
9:59 AM - 25 Oct 2018
...the lack of substantiating or corroborating evidence, and the overarching and serious credibility problems pervading the presentation of these allegations.
9:59 AM - 25 Oct 2018
Swetnick made her allegations in a sworn statement to the committee on September 26. In an October 1 interview with NBC News, however, Swetnick specifically and explicitly back-tracked or contradicted key parts of her sworn statement on these and other allegations.
9:59 AM - 25 Oct 2018
In subsequent interviews, Avenatti likewise cast serious doubt on or contradicted the allegations while insisting that he had thoroughly vetted his client.
9:59 AM - 25 Oct 2018
https://twitter.com/senjudiciary/status/1055502296665243648