Grassley refers pair to DOJ for investigation in Kavanaugh case

— Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley on Thursday referred lawyer Michael Avenatti and Julie Swetnick — one of the women who accused nowSupreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh of misconduct during his confirmation proceedings — to the Department of Justice for a criminal probe, alleging that they made “materially false” statements to Grassley’s committee as it investigated the allegations.

Swetnick said in a September affidavit that Kavanaugh attended a 1982 house party during which she says she was gang raped — an accusation Kavanaugh denied.

Grassley, R-Iowa, said he is asking the Justice Department to look into whether Avenatti and Swetnick potentially conspired to give materially false statements to Congress and obstruct a congressional investigation.

The committee, in a news release, said the “obvious, subsequent contradictions” from Avenatti, as well as the “suspicious timing of the allegations,” warrants a federal investigation.

Avenatti responded to the news of the criminal referral on Twitter, calling it “ironic” that Grassley is “now interested in investigations.” He appeared to be speaking on behalf of himself and Swetnick.

“He didn’t care when it came to putting a man on the SCOTUS for life,” he tweeted, referring to the Supreme Court.