Michael Avenatti denied Wednesday ever hitting a woman following his arrest on a charge of felony domestic violence in Los Angeles.
“I have been an advocate for women’s rights my entire career, and I’m going to continue an advocate. I am not going to be intimated from stopping what I am doing. I am a father to two beautiful, smart daughters. I would never disrespect them by touching a woman inappropriately or striking a woman,” Avenatti told reporters during a brief press conference outside the Los Angeles Police Department. “I also want to thank everyone for their support that has reached out. You know my character, you know me as a man, and I appreciate it.”
Avenatti, via his law firm, released a statement earlier Wednesday in which he blasted the claim of domestic violence as “completely bogus.”
“I wish to thank the hard working men and [women] of the LAPD for their professionalism,” Avenatti wrote. “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.”
New statement from @MichaelAvenatti via his law office: “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.” pic.twitter.com/f2fnThdt7O
— Ruby Cramer (@rubycramer) November 15, 2018
The LAPD on Wednesday confirmed detectives had arrested and booked Avenatti before setting bail at $50,000.
“This is an ongoing investigation and we will provide more details as they become available,” the department tweeted.
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
Avenatti became a cable news fixture this year after taking on porn star Stormy Daniels’ cases against President Trump. He has publicly mulled launching a Democratic 2020 presidential bid, making several trips to early-voting states.
