Avenatti in police custody after domestic dispute

Legal

Stormy Daniels attorney Michael Avenatti was arrested Wednesday in Los Angeles on suspicion of domestic violence.

According to the Associated Press, the hard-charging lawyer who is exploring a 2020 Democratic run for president was taken into custody in Los Angeles. The incident occurred Tuesday, but no particulars were reported.

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On Wednesday evening, Avenatti released a statement through his law office denying all abuse allegations.

"I wish to thank the LAPD for their professionalism, they have only been doing their jobs in the light of the complete allegations against me," he said. "I have never been seriously abusive in my life nor was I last night. Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to harm my reputation. I look forward to being fully exonerated. "

Avenatti, who is in the midst of a contested divorce, has campaigned across 20 states since July, speaking to large crowds and selling out fundraising dinners, including in Iowa. To the Donald Trump, calling on the Democratic Field to "hit harder" against the president.

On Saturday, Avenatti is revealed to a man who was seeking to bring charges against Fox News host Carlson Tucker after an incident in a Virginia restaurant.

A spokesman for Avenatti did not have immediate comment.

Since Avenatti began ramping up his 2020 ambitions, he's faced various controversies, from getting into verbal scrums with Donald Trump Jr. on Twitter to face a backlash over comments he made, according to Time, that the person to run against Trump "better be a white male. "Avenatti said it was taken out of context, saying:" It's a f —— contempt. "Last month, the Senate Judiciary Committee referred Avenatti and his client Julie Swetnick to the Justice Department for an investigation into false statements after sexual allegations against Brett Kavanaugh, then a Supreme Court nominee.

Avenatti also faced his share of troubles in civil court. As part of a divorce, his second wife sought $ 215,643 a month in family support. And in October, Los Angeles judge issued an order saying Avenatti must pay $ 4.85 million to a lawmaker who claimed he was owed millions of dollars in profit.

At the time, Avenatti told POLITICO there was nothing in his past that would rule out a potential run for president. He launched a political PAC and released his first ad.

"There's all kinds of things I would not have done. Do I think any of them are disqualifying? No. Do I think any of them are disqualifying in the age of Donald Trump? Absolutely not, "he said. "But look, I'm a real guy. I'm a genuine guy. But if I decide to do it and some of these things come out, I'm going to own them. "