Michael Avenatti may never win a court case against Donald Trump and he certainly will not ever be President of the United States. But if he’s in the market for an award of some kind, we might have something available for him. It’s the Fastest Rising and Falling Star of the Year Award, and it’s his for the taking as far as we can tell. We’ve never seen anyone – in this year or any other – who shot to fame so quickly only to flame out within just a few months. It would almost be a sad tale were it not for the fact that Avenatti brought all his ill fortune on himself.
This week it was reported that the lawyer-turned-cable-news-mainstay was arrested on felony domestic violence charges by the Los Angeles Police Department. It’s unclear who the victim in the alleged attack was, but police spokespeople told reporters that the incident occurred on Santa Monica Boulevard near Beverly Hills. Presumably, this was in reference to the Ten Thousand, a luxury apartment building in the area the LAPD alluded to. Avenatti freed himself on $50,000 bail, denied the charges, and delivered a statement of defiance outside the police station.
“I wish to thank the hard working men and women of the LAPD for their professionalism. They were only doing their jobs in light of the completely bogus allegations against me,” Avenatti said. “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.”
In further remarks to reporters, Avenatti hinted that the charges were meant to derail his crusade against President Trump.
“I am not going to be intimidated from stopping what I am doing,” he said.
But with the atmosphere of an arrest now upon him, Avenatti’s supporters are quickly abandoning ship. In a statement released shortly after Avenatti posted bail, his star client – porn actress Stormy Daniels – said that she would fire him if the allegations were proven true.
“These are serious and obviously very troubling allegations, but right now that is all they are: allegations,” Daniels told New York Magazine. “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. But of course, I do not condone violence against women and if these allegations prove true, I will be seeking new representation.”
The call to reserve judgement rings somewhat hollow, of course, given Avenatti’s work in the political arena for the last few months. This work included representing Julie Swetnick, an obvious and proven liar who came forward to accuse Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of everything short of murder during his hearings. Swetnick’s credibility came under immediate scrutiny; in an interview with NBC News, she withdrew most of the allegations she put forth in a sworn affidavit. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has asked for a criminal investigation into both her and Avenatti.
Put that together with the multi-million dollar judgements that have landed against Avenatti in the last month or so, and you’ve got someone who was already on the verge of a complete and total public collapse.
This arrest might just be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
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