Abuse probe losing traction
LOS ANGELES: The investigation by the FBI over allegations of child abuse by actor Brad Pitt is unlikely to proceed, a source close to the situation has told People Magazine.
The 52-year-old Pitt is accused of being verbally abusive and “getting physical” with his 15-yearold son Maddox while he and his wife Angelina Jolie were returning from France to their home in Los Angeles on a private plane on September 14, the magazine reported.
A source close to the couple told People Magazine that Pitt did not strike Maddox, but rather “made contact with him in the shoulder area”.
“There was absolutely no physical injury to him,” the source explained.
Pitt was allegedly drunk, and was arguing with Jolie.
“There was a parentchild argument which was not handled in the right way and escalated more than it should source said.
The FBI hasn’t determined whether a fully fledged investigation is warranted.
“The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued,” according to a statement released by Laura Eimiller of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office.
A source close to the actor said “it does not seem likely at this time that the FBI will be recommending further investigation into the matter”.
Jolie, a 41-year-old Oscar-winning actress, filed a petition for divorce last Monday in Los Angeles, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the breakup.
Many believe the alleged child-abuse incident may have triggered the split, which put an end to the two-year marriage of the glamorous couple.
Jolie is asking the court for physical custody of the couple’s six children and to grant Pitt visitation rights. Jolie is not asking for spousal support.
Of their six children, the couple are the biological parents of three and adopted the other three.
A source told US Weekly that Jolie took extreme measures to sever lines of communication with her estranged husband Pitt. “Angelina has blocked all incoming text messages and also Brad’s numbers,” the insider said.
The source told People Magazine that Pitt “is beside himself and has been crying”. “He was completely caught offguard and blindsided and had no idea she would do this,” the source said. – Xinhua