Michael Avenatti, famous for his role as the attorney for adult film actress Stormy Daniels in her defamation suit against President Donald Trump, has been arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence charges, TMZ reported.
A woman had filed a domestic violence report against Avenatti after an incident on Nov. 13 and Avenatti was arrested on Nov. 14. TMZ was told that Avenatti allegedly left the woman with a “swollen and bruised” face with red marks on both cheeks.
A law enforcement source had told TMZ said that Avenatti had “kicked her out of the apartment” in Century City in Los Angeles on Nov. 13 when the domestic violence had allegedly occurred.
Police had responded to the alleged incident and took a report on the night, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.
Update: We can confirm that Michael Avenatti (DOB: 02-16-71) was booked this afternoon on a felony domestic violence charge (273.5 PC). His bail is set at $50,000.
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) November 15, 2018
There was also a dispute between the two on Nov. 14 just moments prior to Avenatti’s arrest. According to TMZ, the woman had come back to the apartment to collect her belongings. She had called for her own security to be on standby in case there was any further conflict.
The woman had allegedly told Avenatti earlier over the phone, as she was nearing the apartment on Nov. 14, that she would get a restraining order against him over the alleged abuse. Witnesses heard Avenatti, who showed up at the apartment five minutes later, screaming in the presence of security that it was the woman who hit him first.
Police arrived on the scene soon after. TMZ reported that they had escorted Avenatti into a corner of the apartment lobby for a five to ten minute talk, after which they took Avenatti into custody.
Avenatti has since posted $50,000 bail about four hours after his arrest and returned to his apartment less than a block away. As he left the police station Nov. 14, he made a public statement.
The details of the alleged victim have not been released by police, including the woman’s relationship to Avenatti.
Avenatti, who has said he’s mulling a 2020 presidential run, 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.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has claimed she had an affair with Trump in 2006. Daniels also sued Trump and his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, alleging defamation.
Correction notice: This article has been corrected to say that a woman had filed charges against Avenatti, and not his estranged wife who filed the charges.
Update: This article has been updated since Avenatti posted bail and was released.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Watch Next:
SpyGate—Collusion Scandal bigger than Watergate [Part 1/2] Those Involved to Take Down Trump
America’s most powerful agencies were weaponized against President Donald Trump in a collusion scandal perpetrated by top officials in the #Obama administration.
