FBI, social workers investigate Pitt altercation

LOS ANGELES — Investigations by the FBI and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services into allegations about Brad Pitt’s behavior with one of his children involve an altercation on a plane that officials are still trying to sort out, a law enforcement source said Friday.

The source said the allegation involves some sort of physical altercation between Pitt and his 15-year-old son but does not involve punching or hitting. The source said the altercation began verbally.

County social workers are the primary investigators and have talked to the family, the source said. The FBI has not talked to the family and has not launched a formal investigation, but will likely play some role because the altercation occurred on an aircraft. No formal complaint was made to the FBI, but one was made to DCFS.

A DCFS spokesman said he couldn’t comment on whether the department was investigating.

Laura Wasser, an attorney for Angelina Jolie, who filed for divorce this week from Pitt, declined to comment.

Late Thursday, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller issued a statement, saying, “The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued.”

Jolie cited irreconcilable differences in her divorce filing but didn’t elaborate. Attorney Robert Offer, who also represents Jolie, said Tuesday that the decision to divorce was made “for the health of the family.”

She is seeking sole physical custody and joint legal custody of the couple’s six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne. In the Los Angeles County Superior Court filing, Jolie said she was willing to give her husband visitation rights.