Stormy Daniels Attorney Michael Avenatti Arrested After Domestic Violence Allegations

Michael Avenatti , the lawyer who represents adult film star Stormy Daniels, was arrested in Los Angeles on Wednesday on allegations of domestic violence, according to several media outlets .

The LAPD confirmed the arrest in an email to HuffPost, but said he had not been booked.

The Associated Press notes that police had taken a report related to a domestic violence incident on Tuesday but did not bring Avenatti in until the following day, according to an anonymous law enforcement official.

Avenatti addressed the allegations in a brief statement after posting bail on Wednesday evening. He vehemently denied the claims.

“I want to thank the hardworking men and women of the LAPD for their professionalism and their work today. They had no option in light of the allegations,” he said outside the LAPD’s Pacific Division. “Secondly, I have never struck a woman, I never will strike a woman, I have been an advocate for women’s rights my entire career and I’m going to continue to be an advocate. I am not going to be intimidated from stopping what I am doing.”

He added: “I am a father to two beautiful, smart daughters. I would never disrespect them by touching a woman inappropriately or striking a woman. I am looking forward to a full investigation, at which point I am confident I will be fully exonerated.”

CNN ’s Dianne Gallagher noted he is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 5.

Avenatti, 47, has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump in recent months and said in October he was “seriously considering ” a run for the White House in 2020.

The attorney has become nationally known after representing Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, in several lawsuits against Trump and his associates. Daniels alleges that she had an affair with Trump in 2006 and was paid $130,000 in hush money by the president’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, just weeks before the 2016 election.

Daniels signed a nondisclosure agreement, but has sued to void that document because Trump never signed them.

The president has repeatedly denied that he had the affair, but in August, Cohen told a federal court that Trump had personally directed him to make the payment.

This article has been updated with Avenatti’s comment after posting bail.