Los Angeles prosecutor declines felony case against Michael Avenatti
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles district attorney declined to prosecute attorney Michael Avenatti on felony domestic abuse charges on Wednesday and referred allegations that he roughed up his girlfriend to the city attorney for a possible misdemeanor case.
Avenatti, 47, was arrested on a felony domestic violence charge last week after his girlfriend told police he abused her at his Los Angeles apartment following an argument. A restraining order against Avenatti was issued after actress Mareli Miniutti said he dragged her across the floor of his Los Angeles apartment after an argument. She wrote in a sworn statement that Avenatti shouted expletives, told her she was "ungrateful" and "forcefully" hit her in the face with bed pillows.
Avenatti, who had called the allegations "completely false" and a fabrication, said in a statement he was thankful the district attorney had rejected the charges.
"I have maintained my innocence since the moment of my arrest," he said. "I wish to thank my supporters, friends, family, attorneys, and clients for the outpouring of support they provided."
"This Thanksgiving," he said, "I am especially grateful for justice."
A spokeswoman for the district attorney would not say why prosecutors declined to take the case from Los Angeles police. Documents supporting the decision were not released because the case was referred to the city attorney and is still under investigation.
Avenatti, who is mulling a presidential run, is best known as the attorney for porn actress Stormy Daniels, who has said she had an affair with President Donald Trump in 2006, a claim Mr. Trump denies.
As Daniels' lawyer, Avenatti has pursued the president and those close to him relentlessly for months, taunting Mr. Trump in interviews and baiting him and his lawyers in tweets.
Miniutti said in her request for a restraining order that she was wearing only a T-shirt and underwear when he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out of the bed. She said she was scratched on her side and leg. Court papers include photographs that appear to show bruises.
The order was granted Monday.
Avenatti said that he would be vindicated once footage from security cameras in the building was reviewed, even though the violence described by Miniutti would not have occurred in the building's public areas.
