Word of Michael Avenatti being arrested in Los Angeles for domestic violence broke via TMZ, a site known for celebrity gossip. The Associated Press confirmed that Avenatti had indeed been arrested, and now BuzzFeed has obtained a statement that would seem to exculpate Avenatti, from his ex wife, Lisa Storie-Avenatti’s, lawyer:
“My client and I have reviewed the TMZ article alleging that my client, Lisa Storie-Avenatti, has been injured and that Michael Avenatti has been arrested as a result of some incident that occurred between them. This article is not true as it pertains to my client,” the statement said. “Ms. Storie-Avenatti was not subject to any such incident on Tuesday night. Further, she was not at Mr. Avenatti’s apartment on the date that this alleged incident occurred. My client states that there has never been domestic violence in her relationship with Michael and that she has never known Michael to be physically violent toward anyone.”
“He hasn’t been officially booked. He is in the process,” LAPD Officer Jeff Lee told USA TODAY.
In a tweet, the LAPD wrote, “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.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
UPDATE: 7:00 p.m. PST
6. LAPD confirms that Avenatti was booked on a felony domestic violence charge. His bail is set at $50,000.
— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) November 15, 2018
Evidently, the person making the charge is not his ex wife. It is a girlfriend or other domestic partner. No details are forthcoming about that.
Avenatti’s first wife, Christine Avenatti-Carlin, has also provided a statement tonight, via his office: “He has never been abusive to me or anyone else. He is a very good man.” pic.twitter.com/XM05v0M0p7
— Ruby Cramer (@rubycramer) November 15, 2018
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
More details as they become available.
This is an obvious frame job. GOP bribed a woman to sign an affidavit of lies against him and use that to file false charges. GOP figures if a pipe bomb didn’t scare him off, maybe this will silence him and if not smear his name and reputation. Won’t work. May have worked with Franken, but Avenatti will pursue justice in Court and come back even more determined to expose the fake charges and counterattack the Trump.
I have to agree, the timing stinks and Drumph is dancing on a razor sharp edge in cheap flip flops … so unstable he may end his own tenure with cardiac problems, he already is showing problems with clear thinking … check that, MORE problems with clear communications … and his eating habits are atrocious …