Grassley refers Avenatti and Swetnick to Justice for a criminal probe

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post




By Seung Min Kim and Elise Viebeck October 25 at 1:35 PM

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) on Thursday referred lawyer Michael Avenatti and Julie Swetnick — one of the women who accused now-Supreme Court Justice Brett M. 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 vehemently denied and said was from the “Twilight Zone.” Grassley said he is asking the Justice Department to look into whether Swetnick and Avenatti potentially conspired to give materially false statements to Congress and to obstruct a congressional investigation.

“The committee’s investigation has involved communicating with numerous individuals claiming to have relevant information,” Grassley wrote in the letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI director Christopher A. Wray. “While many of those individuals have provided the committee information in good faith, it unfortunately appears some have not.”

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.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/10/25/top-senate-republican-refers-kavanaugh-accuser-lawyer-michael-avenatti-to-justice-department-for-criminal-investigation/

[dlk]

1. The Fascists are Here

[Bfd]

6. Yes they are. We have just one single day to save our country

[RKP5637]

12. It's so damn sad. It really boils down to that. I often wonder how many Americans really get what is

going on in the US.

[Bfd]

28. I wonder that same thing. Its a heavy weight to carry whe you're the half that does realize it.

I really fear the rapid descent should we not secure the House or Senate.

I see this everytime I open my downloads. Its only taken 2 years of Trump to incrementally bend this country to a breakable state.

We have the power in numbers alone to stop it.
But they have the pre-written script.

It is a bit too chilling to think we could actually reach a point of no return, but if the election swings Right rather than Left, I believe the descent will be rapid. They have set all the possible wheels in motion for that day.

No one should let someone else carry the load on election day.
It will take a nation of voters to stop the bleeding from our borders to our seacoasts.

Born: April 20, 1889 
Braunau, Austria 
Died: April 30, 1945 
Berlin, Germany 
German dictator and nationalist

The German dictator Adolf Hitler led the extreme nationalist and racist Nazi party and served as chancellor-president of Germany from 1933 to 1945. Arguably one of the most effective and powerful leaders of the twentieth century, his leadership led to the deaths of nearly six million Jews.
[/b

Read more: https://www.notablebiographies.com/He-Ho/Hitler-Adolf.html#ixzz5Uy6eUMyb





We see the subtle similarities already in play. We should indeed fear it.

Vote Blue so we don't get swallowed up in one big bite, by fascism.
Seriously.
We have been given just one day to save ourselves.

Failure is not an option anymore.
Vote.

[RKP5637]

31. It really is ... it's similar to the sh** that happened in Germany. I am stunned by how many

Americans are so stupid, and others so easily misled. The US is definitely a country in crisis, there is no other way to really spell it out.

[7962]

42. not as many as should. A LOT of People cant even name their Senators.

none of those people are on DU, but they're ALL on Facebook I bet!

[RKP5637]

43. Someone did questions way back, many did not know who the VP was and actually some

could not even name who George Washington was. It was not on DU. Seems it was one of the news programs asking people on the street.

[RKP5637]

10. Yep, exactly! n/t

[Texin]

36. They've been here all along. They just kept their hoods over themselves.

Now they are brazen enough to do this less than two weeks before an election!

[Gore1FL]

2. Discovery could get interesting... nt

[FBaggins]

26. A DOJ investigation doesn't involve discovery

Unless she is charged with a crime, the investigation is controlled entirely by DOJ.

[onenote]

47. +1

I wish amateur lawyers would stick with subjects they know something about.

[kacekwl]

53. What's the point of an investigation

if they don't plan on charges being filed ?

[FBaggins]

56. I can't accept the premise of that question

Investigations exist to determine whether or not a law has been violated (and, if so, whether a prosecution has a reasonable chance of success).

[Arazi]

54. I think they're thinking of a deposition

[FBaggins]

55. Depositions are part of discovery

In fact... In Canada they are called "examination for discovery"

[hlthe2b]

3. Just opened Pandora's box?

Link to tweet

[Pachamama]

8. Discovery here we come!!!!

Avenatti is correct....its Christmas in October....

And Grassley isn't a good lawyer by any measure if his client is Kavanaugh....

[onenote]

25. Discovery? When?

Not during a DOJ criminal investigation.

I've read the full letter from Grassley to DOJ and some of it is pretty thin gruel, but I don't see much in the way of an opening for Avenatti to do anything.

[Texin]

37. Grassley is not a lawyer.

[Pachamama]

48. Referring to Avenatti's mocking of Grassley as not being a good lawyer....

Since Grassley seems to fashion himself as one....

[Haggis for Breakfast]

50. Grassley is a troglodyte.

He needs to retire or resign. He has lost touch with reality.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. Agree on this one

They wouldn't look into it before the confirmation vote. Now they're going to look into it after. Beware of getting what you want.

[HuskyOffset]

15. Justice Kavanaugh wants to know...

...if Pandora's box contains any beer, because he likes beer!

Seriously though, if Grassley's action makes it possible to publicly air Kavanaugh's dirty laundry, that's awesome. Love me some legal jiu-jitsu.

[saidsimplesimon]

4. Grassley has joined the orange con

by demanding that Beauregard be the lackey used to punish any who challenge them. They want to turn the Justice Department into a clearing house to investigate imagined crimes while turning a blind eye to the corruption and refuse to perform their duty to provide oversight of the Execute Branch.

[redstateblues]

5. Kavanaugh can't be happy that Grassley is dredging up this can of worms

[mobeau69]

21. Bingo

KKKavanaugh just wants it all to be history. The record on his horrid confirmation is thick enough already for his liking.

[George II]

7. So now they're investigating their adversaries? Haven't any of these morons read...

...any history books? Germany? Soviet Union? Communist China? North Korea? Saudi Arabia?

[edhopper]

9. Of course they have

that is what they want. Look at the leaders Trump likes, Putin Kim, Duterte...

[RKP5637]

14. Exactly what is going on. They know just what they are doing. n/t

[SunSeeker]

11. So are we going to get an actual FBI investigation into Swetnick's allegations? nt

[jberryhill]

16. That's what it sounds like

If the FBI takes him up on the offer.

[rgbecker]

17. Funny, I thought Grassley said it was up to the White House to initiate FBI investigations.

When was that...just a month and a half ago. Does he think we have no memory at all?

[Garion_55]

20. that was a background check. this is a criminal investigation

if grassley is accusing this woman of lying about the accusations and wants to charge her criminally, there has to be a real full true investigation of her accusations, there is no limiting by the white house or anyone else what the fbi can or cannot look at. they can follow every lead. and i think the results of the investigation might be open to the public, given to both sides and aired out in court eventually.

at least thats what i am led to believe.


if thats the case i cant see how in anyway this helps the judge. as far as he was concerned he won, the game was over. he was spiking the ball. this opens it all back up again for no reason other than grassley is trying to be an asshole.

yeah i cant imagine this is a good thing for the gop and the judge

[ancianita]

23. If the investigations relate to presidential nominees, yes. Others can initiate for other reasons.

That's the main difference.

The nomination committee controlled discovery under WH discretion.

This time they can't control discovery.

[Vinca]

18. So what happens if the FBI confirms Swetnick's story? Is Kavanaugh impeached . . . Chuck???

[dweller]

19. oh joy !

bring it ...

✌🏼️

[colsohlibgal]

22. Grassley Belongs In Another Time

He looks, acts, and talks like it is 1953 instead of now. Plus he is an A-1 Jerk.

[spooky3]

24. Will this begin right after Kavanaugh is investigated for making false statements?

[oldtime dfl_er]

27. I smell a rat

Not sure of the motive behind this but it could be to stir up crap on Avenatti, because they see him as a real threat. Also, to distract him from what he's been doing.

Don't trust Grassley or any of the GOP, nothing is face value.

[mr_lebowski]

29. Might be wrong but I don't think she said Kav was AT the particular party ...

The one where she was raped. I believe it was something to the effect of the 'same type of party she'd recently seen Kavs at', along with some other damning sounding stuff about him.

But I can't be arsed to try to find the letter.

[Hassler]

30. Chuck Get-off-my-Grass-ley is either a demented fool or a fool on mission.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

51. Maybe he's both.

[KWR65]

32. I'll huff and I'll puff...

be careful what you wish for you just might get it.

[cilla4progress]

33. Something tells me

Avenatti will welcome this!

[DFW]

34. So give lie detector tests to Swetnik, Avenatti, Kavanaugh AND Grassley

See if one or more fails miserably. Granted, the tests are not definitive, but if one or more fails rather obviously, it will be apparent who was obstructing justice and who wasn't. As chairman of the confirmation farce, Grassley should be questioned along with the rest about intent to obstruct justice during the confirmation hearings by limiting the scope and time of the FBI's investigation, and indicted if the tests show he did.

[lagomorph777]

35. Fuck off Assley.

Your ass is grass once we control the House and Senate.

[Texin]

38. What is all this silverback posturing in aid of right now?

Is this just a display of bravado to motivate their *base*?

[RicROC]

39. Grassley must be worried about Avenatti's Presidential bid

I guess Avenatti is making some people worried that he might actually run for President.

[7962]

44. What worries me is Avenatti taking away media from someone who has a chance to WIN.

Trump would probably love it. They could both insult each other for months.

[neohippie]

40. They should investigate all the people who claimed they were assaulted

If the GOP is so sure that all the accusers were lying they should investigate all of them.

I hope this comes back to bite Kavanaugh and Grassley

[red dog 1]

41. Sit down and shut up, Grassley, you evil bastard!

What needs to be investigated by the Justice Department are the false statements KAVANAUGH made to the Judiciary Committee! (not Swetnick or Avenatti)

[turbinetree]

45. Hey Grassley.....................thank you for showing the American Public how stupid you really

are........................do you fucking realize, that Avenatii's client was not given due process and now you have given her due process, she has a right to defend herself and her attorney also has that right..........................that you, you dumb fucker have now given him and his client the means to put forth a motion for Discovery, to have it be determined if you have a case.......................and the asshole sexual assaulting justice that you placed on the bench now has to testify and give a disposition.................because dumb shit you are accusing an accuser of lying.....................how do you know that her attorney and herself lied.............................

She gave a sworn testimony that was submitted under the penalty of perjury, do you fucking think that someone would just do that to just do it............ .......and then your fascist white house and there hired attorney Burke, remember him, told the committee and the public they were not going to investigate and withheldd 90% of the information on your drunk judge that went around and hurt woman, without mind their permission, he had to clue what NO meant, none he didn't give a flying rat's ass, hell he couldn't remember that he use to brag about his adventures of shit............... when they the accusers were not given the opportunity to testify and have corroborating testimony to be called upon by you and the other sexual predator with orange hair, that will have to give a deposition in the Zervo's matter.............. ......................

A box of rocks are /is smarter than you................................. .....................you have now placed the FBI and the DOj into the picture without the white house stopping this or being able to stop this............................and your "guy" on the bench can't stop it........................ .......................it is now called due process, every person accused has a right to defend themselves....................

[Perrenial Voter]

46. This is just harrassment of witnesses. There's no way they can

prove her allegations aren't true or get her to be prosecuted on the minor clarifications she made in her testimony as a result of questioning. The rape actually occurred in 1980 and she filed a police report that the local police have been trying to locate. She did not allege that Kavanaugh was the rapist. I don't think she said he was even there.

What she originally accused Kavanaugh of was spiking the punch at parties and lining up outside rooms in which she presumed gang rapes were taking place. Later she said she couldn't be absolutely sure that Kavanaugh spiked the punch, but assumed so because she observed that he frequently hovered around it passing out cups of punch to women who passed by. Mitchell called this a "retraction" of her declaration.

The FBI did not interview her or the witnesses she listed, because Mitchell on behalf of the committee had determined that she was not credible.

[Judi Lynn]

57. Welcome, Perrenial Voter. This is an active, informative, enjoyable forum. Glad you're here.

Thanks for your post.

[amb123]

49. Don't be surprised

if Grassley does the same to Dr. Ford and Deborah Ramirez soon.

[Gothmog]

52. Grassley is full of crap yet again