Stormy Daniels' Lawyer Calls Charge Against Him 'Bogus'

Michael Avenatti arrested on charge of felony domestic violence
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 15, 2018 12:31 AM CST
Stormy Daniels' Lawyer Accused of Domestic Violence
Michael Avenatti, attorney for porn actress Stormy Daniels, arrives at US District Court in Los Angeles, Monday, Sept. 24, 2018.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Stormy Daniels' lawyer was arrested Wednesday on what he claimed was a "completely bogus" charge of felony domestic violence. Michael Avenatti, a frequent and outspoken critic of President Trump, was released on $50,000 bail, the BBC reports. Los Angeles Police Department Tony Im says the victim in the case had visible injuries, the Guardian reports. Sources tell TMZ that the woman's face was "swollen and bruised." The sources say the alleged incident occurred Tuesday night, when Avenatti "kicked the woman out" of a luxury apartment building in Century City, and the woman called police after another confrontation when she returned to retrieve her belongings Wednesday.

TMZ initially claimed the woman was Avenatti's estranged wife, but Lisa Storie-Avenatti later released a statement saying she was not involved and had never known him to be violent. Avenatti denied the allegations in a statement released by his law office, the Washington Post reports. "I wish to thank the hard working men and women of the LAPD for their professionalism," he said. "I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night. Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation. I look forward to being fully exonerated." The Vermont Democratic Party has cancelled two events Avenatti was supposed to speak at over the weekend. (In July, Avenatti said he was considering running for president in 2020.)

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