Stormy Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti arrested in L.A. on domestic violence charge
Police declined to identify the complainant but both Avenatti’s estranged wife and ex-wife said they were not the victims
Article content
LOS ANGELES — Michael Avenatti, who skyrocketed to fame as a critic of President Donald Trump and the lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels, was arrested Wednesday and booked on a felony domestic violence charge, Los Angeles police said.
The victim in the case had visible injuries, according to Officer Tony Im, a police spokesman. But Avenatti slammed the allegation as “completely bogus” and “fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation” in a statement released by his law firm.
Avenatti, who has said he’s mulling a 2020 presidential run, posted $50,000 bail and was released about four hours after he was arrested Wednesday on the same block where he lives in a skyscraper apartment.
Police declined to provide any details about the victim, including the victim’s relationship to Avenatti.
TMZ initially reported the case involved his estranged wife, Lisa Storie-Avenatti. In a statement to BuzzFeed News, lawyers for Storie-Avenatti denied her involvement in the incident, adding, “My client states that there has never been domestic violence in her relationship with Michael and that she has never known Michael to be physically violent toward anyone.”
BuzzFeed also reports Christine Avenatti-Carlin, Avenatti’s ex-wife, also released a statement through her attorneys about her former partner: “He has never been abusive to me or anyone else.”
As he left the police station Wednesday, Avenatti said he had never hit a woman and said he’s been an advocate for women’s rights his entire career.
“I wish to thank the hard working men and woman of the LAPD for their professionalism and their work today. They had no option in light of the allegations,” Avenatti said. “I am looking forward to a full investigation, at which point I am confident that I will be fully exonerated.”
Avenatti became famous as Daniels’ lawyer and pursued the president and those close to him relentlessly for months, taunting Trump in interviews and baiting him and his lawyers in tweets.
- A judge has thrown out porn star Stormy Daniels' defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump
- Second woman accuses Supreme Court pick Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, as Stormy Daniels' lawyer hints at more to come
- Porn star Stormy Daniels says Trump offered to bring her on 'The Apprentice,' then cheat to help her win
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had an affair with Trump in 2006 and has sued to invalidate the confidentiality agreement she signed days before the 2016 presidential election that prevents her discussing it. She also sued Trump and his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, alleging defamation.
The Vermont Democratic Party cancelled events planned for Friday and Saturday, where Avenatti was scheduled to speak, and is refunding ticket sales.
— Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Catherine Lucey in Washington contributed to this report
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.