Adult entertainer Stormy Daniels was arrested Wednesday night after police said she let customers touch her while she was performing on stage, according to her lawyer Michael Avenatti, who claimed the arrest was a politically motivated “setup.”
“Just rcvd word that my client @StormyDaniels was arrested in Columbus Ohio whole (sic) performing the same act she has performed across the nation at nearly a hundred strip clubs,” Avenatti tweeted late Wednesday night. “This was a setup & politically motivated. It reeks of desperation. We will fight all bogus charges.”
Just rcvd word that my client @StormyDaniels was arrested in Columbus Ohio whole performing the same act she has performed across the nation at nearly a hundred strip clubs. This was a setup & politically motivated. It reeks of desperation. We will fight all bogus charges. #Basta
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018
“She was arrested for allegedly allowing a customer to touch her while on stage in a non sexual manner! Are you kidding me? They are devoting law enforcement resources to sting operations for this? There has to be higher priorities!!!” he added.
She was arrested for allegedly allowing a customer to touch her while on stage in a non sexual manner! Are you kidding me? They are devoting law enforcement resources to sting operations for this? There has to be higher priorities!!! #SetUp #Basta
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018
Daniel’s, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, said she will be canceling her show scheduled for Thursday night in light of her arrest.
“As a result of what happened last night, I will unfortunately be unable to go forward with tonight’s scheduled performance. I deeply apologize to my fans in Columbus,” Avenatti tweeted out as an official statement from Daniels.
Official Statement From @StormyDaniels: As a result of what happened last night, I will unfortunately be unable to go forward with tonight’s scheduled performance. I deeply apologize to my fans in Columbus.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018
Daniel’s lawyer believes she will be released on bail and charged with a misdemeanor for “allowing touching,” which he says she will plead not guilty to the three charges.
“My client @StormyDaniels will issue a plea of ‘Not Guilty’ to the three misdemeanor charges,” Avenatti announced on Twitter Thursday morning.
My client @StormyDaniels will issue a plea of “Not Guilty” to the three misdemeanor charges.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018
Avenatti has been in the public eye for months now after become Daniel’s lawyer when she went public with her allegations that she was paid $130,000 in hush money by President Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen to keep quiet about an extramarital affair she had years ago with Trump.
She alleges that Cohen paid her the money just before the 2016 presidential elections.
