Stormy Daniels issued a statement Thursday after her attorney Michael Avenatti was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence.
In remarks offered to New York Magazine’s Olivia Nuzzi, Daniels said she would reserve judgement until more information was known, but that if any of the accusations were confirmed she would drop the attorney and seek new counsel in her legal fight with President Trump.
“These are serious and obviously very troubling allegations, but right now that is all they are: allegations. We should all reserve judgement until the investigation — an investigation Michael has said he welcomes — is complete, and that’s what I’m going to do,” said Daniels.
“But of course I do not condone violence against women and if these allegations prove true I will be seeking new representation,” she added.
NEW: Statement from Stormy Daniels regarding Michael Avenatti @NYMag pic.twitter.com/p1dUgCN9tr
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) November 15, 2018
On Wednesday evening, Avenatti was booked by L.A. police on suspicions of domestic violence. He was released the same night on $50,000 bail.
“I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night,” he said after leaving police custody. “Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation. I look forward to being fully exonerated.”
Once a relatively unknown adult film actress, Daniels rocketed to public consciousness after she sued President Trump to be released from an NDA she signed with the billionaire shortly before the 2016 election. Daniels said she was paid $140,000 to be quiet about an affair she says the two had back in 2006. Trump has consistently denied that any affair took place.
Daniels retained Avenatti to represent her and his savvy television skills quickly made him a near regular presence on CNN and MSNBC in 2018.
In the months since Daniels retained him, the lawyer’s public persona has largely eclipsed hers and in recent months Avenatti has even floated himself as a 2020 presidential candidate. His pugnacious personality has been cited by admirers (and frequently himself) as evidence he is the man to take on Trump.