Last Updated on January 14, 2020
Michael Avenatti, former lawyer to Stormy Daniels and frequent critic of President Donald Trump, was arrested Tuesday night for allegedly breaching the terms of his pretrial bail.
According to legal documents filed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, an arrest warrant was issued for Avenatti “with respect to potential violations of the conditions of pretrial release.”
The document continues, “We understand that that has now occurred. We are still gathering information and will provide an update to the Court as soon as we can.”
New filing in United States v. Avenatti: Letterhttps://t.co/z08KawGNYu pic.twitter.com/0uCPdbJP6m
— Big Cases Bot (@big_cases) January 15, 2020
Avenatti is facing federal charges as part of a scheme to allegedly extort Nike. Federal authorities say that in addition to the alleged extortion, Avenatti lied to his client as part of his scheme to extort the athletic brand.
Additionally, Avenatti is being sued by a former client for allegedly defrauding her of hundreds of thousands of dollars using a fraudulent document. Avenatti maintains his innocence.
Daily Beast writer Jason McGahan wrote on Twitter that “Just moments ago ex-Stormy Daniels attorney Michael Avenatti was taken out of the California State Bar Court in LA the custody [sic] of federal agents.”
Just moments ago ex-Stormy Daniels attorney Michael Avenatti was taken out of the California State Bar Court in LA the custody of federal agents. pic.twitter.com/cU8sM4DUw1
— Jason McGahan (@JasonMcGahan) January 15, 2020
Reports indicate that Avenatti, who appeared in over 300 media interviews when representing Daniels, only professed his innocence as he was escorted by the federal authorities.
In 2018, Avenatti incorrectly claimed that Donald Trump Jr. would be indicted and sent to prison as part of the Mueller probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
“Who else is excited about Avanetti/Weiner 2020?!?” Trump Jr. tweeted, referring to Avenatti’s rumored intention to run for president and misspelling the lawyer’s name. “It’s gonna be Carlos Dangerous.”
Avenatti responded early Tuesday morning by alluding to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference and the Trump campaign. “If I were you, the last thing I would be doing is referencing other people getting out of federal prison. Because after you are indicted, you will likely be passing them on your way in,” Avenatti tweeted.
Avenatti previously blocked National File editor-in-chief Tom Pappert and told him to “go f*ck” himself on Twitter.
