Michael Avenatti has gone from defending clients to having to defend himself.
Against a very serious charge.
The lawyer – who rose to fame for representing porn star Stormy Daniels in her legal battle against Donald Trump, and who is allegedly running for President in 2020 – was arrested on Wednesday for felony domestic violence.
According to law enforcement insiders who talked to TMZ, Avenatti was taken into custody after a woman filed a police report that claimed the attorney was responsible for her injuries.
These injuries included a “swollen and bruised” face with “red marks” on both cheeks, the website writes.
Also according to TMZ:
The alleged incident took place on Tuesday night, but there was another confrontation Wednesday between the Avenatti and this unnamed woman at a apartment building in the Century City area of Los Angeles.
“I can’t believe you did this to me. I’m going to get a restraining order against you,” the woman reportedly said to Avenatti on the sidewalk.
Security guards then escorted the alleged victim into the building, only for Avenatti to follow closely behind and claims “she hit me first,” adding “this is bullsh-t.”
The woman in the case had visible injuries, according to Officer Tony Im, a police spokesman.
After speaking to cops who showed up on the scene, Avenatti was placed under arrest.
It’s unclear at this time just what sort of relationship Avenatti had with the woman.
Hours after being taken into custody on the same block where he lives in a skyscraper apartment, Avenatti posted $ 50,000 bail.
He then held an impromptu press conference and strongly denied wrongdoing as he left the Los Angeles Police Department.
“I have never struck a woman. I will never strike a woman,” he told reporters, adding that he is and would continue to be an “advocate” for women’s rights.
He also called the allegation against him “completely bogus” in a statement through his law office and said the following:
“I wish to thank the hard working men and women of the LAPD for their professionalism, they were only doing their jobs in light of the completely bogus allegations against me.
“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.”
We’ve been told the alleged victim was NOT Avenatti’s ex-wife, Christine Avenatti-Carlin, who also issued a statement of support through her former husband’s law office.
She says Avenatti is a “good man” who “has never been abusive to me or anyone else.”
As noted above, Avenatti is the lawyer for Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford – and who has said she had an affair with President Trump in 2006.
She has sued to invalidate the Commander-in-Chief’s confidentiality agreement she signed days before the 2016 presidential election that prevents her discussing this fling.
And Avenatti has often spoken on her behalf, via social media and/or television appearances, taunting the President and threatening to expose other illicit behavior.
After news of Avenatti’s arrest broke Wednesday afternoon, the LAPD Tweeted:
“We can confirm that today LAPD Detectives arrested Michael Avenatti on suspicion of domestic violence.
“This is an ongoing investigation and we will provide more details as they become available.”