Michael Avenatti says the Kavanaugh FBI investigation is a 'farce and is being run by Donald Trump'
- Attorney Michael Avenatti on Monday said the FBI investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh is a "farce and is being run by" President Donald Trump.
- Avenatti is representing Kavanaugh's third accuser, Julie Swetnick, and said the Trump administration is "afraid" of what his client might say to the FBI.
- Trump has been accused of limiting an FBI investigation into the allegations against Kavanaugh and excluding Swetnick from the process.
- The president on Monday said he has no problem with the FBI interviewing all three accusers.
Attorney Michael Avenatti on Monday said the FBI investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is a "farce and is being run by" President Donald Trump.
Trump and Senate Republicans on Friday announced they'd agreed to a limited, weeklong investigation in allegations of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh.
But reports last weekend suggested the Trump administration is limiting the investigation and excluding Kavanaugh's third accuser, Julie Swetnick, who is being represented by Avenatti. Swetnick alleges Kavanaugh and a friend, Mark Judge, engaged in "abusive and physically aggressive behavior toward girls" at parties in high school and were present at a party where she was "gang raped."
Avenatti on Monday told Business Insider the Trump administration is "afraid" of what his client might say if she's interviewed by the FBI.
"The investigation is a farce and is being run by Donald Trump," Avenatti said. "They obviously are afraid of what my client might say, which is why they are avoiding her. There are many witnesses that can support her allegations and we are prepared to provide those names to the FBI as we have been saying for a week."
'The FBI should do what they have to do to get to the answer'
Trump on Monday said it "wouldn't bother" him at all if the FBI questioned all three women who've accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, but he also described Swetnick as having "very little credibility."
"The FBI should do what they have to do to get to the answer," Trump said. "I want it to be comprehensive."
Trump also said he's being "guided" by senators on who should be looked at by investigators.
Avenatti dismissed Trump's comments and claimed both Senate Republicans and the president are preventing the investigation from being truly comprehensive.
"Trump is talking out of both sides of his mouth - it's part of the con he is running," Avenatti said.
Avenatti, who has repeatedly butted heads with Trump over his representation of adult-film star Stormy Daniels, also said that people have been paying too much attention to one aspect of Swetnick's sworn declaration on the allegations and aren't getting the full picture.
"People need to read the entirety of her declaration and not just focus on paragraph 13," Avenatti said.
Avenatti was referencing the section of the sworn declaration that details the night Swetnick claims she was raped. The declaration does not explicitly allege Kavanaugh or Judge were involved in the alleged assault.