© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels' Lawyer, Arrested Following Domestic Violence Claim

Michael Avenatti was booked Wednesday, a day after police took a report of the alleged incident.
David McNew
/
Getty Images
Michael Avenatti was booked Wednesday, a day after police took a report of the alleged incident.

Michael Avenatti, the attorney for adult film star Stormy Daniels in her legal battles with President Trump, was arrested Wednesday following an allegation of domestic violence, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Avenatti, who has denied the allegation, was booked Wednesday afternoon after police took a report on Tuesday of the alleged incident. He was released on $50,000 bail.

Police say the incident occurred at a residence on Santa Monica Boulevard near Beverly Hills, according to BuzzFeed News.

The identity of the victim of the alleged abuse was not immediately clear. The celebrity gossip website TMZ initially said that Avenatti's estranged wife, Lisa Storie-Avenatti, was involved, but it backed off its reporting after her attorneys issued a denial.

"Ms. Storie-Avenatti was not subject to any such incident on Tuesday night," her attorneys said in a statement to BuzzFeed.

Avenatti has represented Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, in a high-profile lawsuit in which she is asking to be released from a 2016 agreement in which she received $130,000 in what she has described as "hush money" in exchange for her silence about an alleged sexual relationship with Trump.

In the past, Trump has singled out Avenatti for harsh criticism.

"I wish to thank ... the LAPD for their professionalism," Avenatti said a statement. "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," he said.

Avenatti also has represented Julie Swetnick, who accused Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct.

"I am not going to be intimidated from stopping what I am doing," he told reporters outside of an LAPD station.

Avenatti has suggested he might make a run for the White House in 2020 as a Democrat. He launched his own political action committee (PAC), named the Fight PAC, in August.

Avenatti's court date is reportedly scheduled for Dec. 5.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Corrected: November 15, 2018 at 12:00 AM EST
An earlier version of this story said that Michael Avenatti was charged with domestic violence. He was booked on a felony domestic violence charge but has not been formally charged.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content