Any possibility that he was set up, and this is a totally fake, trumped up charge?
2
So far we haven't been told anything substantial about the charges, just hearsay. I'm with Barbara, below, who's waiting for a real article about this story that appears to be more about character assassination than fact. Almost click bait, as are most stories in the media these days.
Wecryout: WHY? OH, WHY, MIKE? You are probably not guilty of any wrong doing; your extreme high public profile invites possible false accusation, BUT WHY, OH WHY NOW? Unless this is an entre' into the 2020 "prez" race since that type of (alleged) behaviour is now almost a prerequisite to run for such an office. We must say that if true, Lele and Basha will be devastated as we too will be. Come join us in our region where you will be treated with respect.
What? He's not demanding the woman be believed ad hoc??
Why not?....Ohhh I see, he's the accused now so it's different, got it.
7
@theshawnWho's the woman? He called for and welcomed a full investigation. That is what "believing" means -- it means it gets investigated.
1
Believe the victim or due process? Is there a procedure that should be followed, no matter the political background, party affiliation, etc?
Or should things be left to 'I feel ____'
4
@Trevor Somehow people are misconstruing what it means to believe the victim. It doesn't mean that there is no investigation or trial. It only means the same thing as it would if a person made a missing persons report, claimed they were burglarized or punched in a parking lot. The police accept it and investigate. Period. Then they decide - as in any other case if there is a case to be pursued.
1
At this point, a conviction of Avenatti's guilt or innocence is no more than an unflattering of display of prejudice. Without more facts to substantiate, however, the appearance of this story at this time, which either reveals the hypocrisy of Avenatti or presumes to teach us a lesson about believing accusers without corroboration, is highly suspect.
5
My first thought was that Avenatti is too smart and has too much to lose to perform some dumb act like this. My second thought was that maybe another goofy Trump supporter is somehow involved. It wouldn't be the first time.
10
@Clark Landrum It's only a conspiracy when it involves the left? Typical. How's that impeachment against Trump coming along? It's been over two years since the election, gotta have proof of the "hacking" by now?!
Here's a novel idea: both sides are a bunch of whiners who will make excuses when it's convenient.
1
His ex wife denied it was her. This incident occurred after he has made Trump so miserable. IT will be interesting to see how this unfolds. At this time I would be suspicious and wonder if the woman involved was paid to set him up.
6
Just great. Al Franken, Elliot Spitzer, and now this.
We don't need any more left wing heroes who can't live up to their words. All they end up doing is damaging the cause.
Maybe we'll end up with better results with all the women leaders we're putting forward.
Less testosterone...better results.
13
@Jack
Let’s wait before we jump on someone. I still feel Al Frankenstein was sacrificed to our loss. We tend to jump too fast in condemnation to try to look fare and balanced.
Slow down, think this out.
14
“Lock him up?” Just curious... who is the accuser? His ex-wife denies he ever abused her or anyone else she knows better.
8
I'm sorry but there is nothing to this article niether for nor against the claim. I must wait until there is more factual information before any opinion.
23
@Barbara
"Every woman who reports an assault should be heard and believed."
- Hillary Clinton
5
@Barbara Are you kidding? This guy is trash. No one has to wait for anything to realize this. He had a false accuser during Senate confirmation hearings. Get your priorities in line lady
4
@Grant "Heard and believed" does not mean he did it. It means you take it seriously and investigate. What is so hard about understanding that? It seems an awful lot of people are confused or deliberately contrive the phrase to mean something it isn't in order to do a "gotcha."
In most normal cases, a woman isn't going to make stuff like this up but some women do, so you believe it and look into it and then make a determination. The phrase started because authorities were dismissing allegations right and left and NOT looking into it.
1
I don't like the guy and if this is true, it is one more reason to be disgusted with him, but after the debacle that went down in Ohio when his client, Ms. Daniels, was arrested on trumped up false charges, I can't help wondering about the legitimacy of this. He obviously has made a lot of powerful enemies who have more than once demonstrated their lack of scruples.
30
One way to educate people like Mr. Avenatti about due process is to accuse them of sex crimes they did not commit.
1
Why do I smell trump in this? Could it be because he’s well known to go after his real or perceived enemies with very dirty tactics? This entire accusation reeks to high heaven.
5
How is an arrest made without charges filed by someone with a name?
6
You would think the police report would identify the accuser. MSNBC called his ex-wife and she told them that Michael Avenatti never hit her.
6
NOT to be dismissed. A set-up?
3
Couple of thoughts: request for "presumption of innocence" from Avenatti"? Did I miss the episode on CNN where he was representing a woman who may or may not be prosecuted for testimony against Kavanaugh?
Let's start an over/under on whether Stormy sues him for putting his marketing campaign above the client's interest .
In most jurisdictions, attorneys fees are levied the client, not the lawyer. Will Stormy have to pay the 350K?
An interesting Jesuitical distinction:" I never HIT a woman ". That leaves chocking, arm twisting, head slams x infinity minus one.
5
It can be difficult to say at any given time who is the creepiest person in America. For right now,. Mr. Avenatti is making it pretty easy:
1. Accused of wife beating.
2. Ordered by a judge to pay $4.85 million to a law partner who charged him with being a cheat.
3. Floated an absurd Kavanaugh accuser as a grandstanding stunt that probably assured GOP gains in the Senate.
And yet, because he attacks the also loathsome Donald Trump, many are willing to overlook everything repulsive about the guy. That sounds a lot like those who backed Trump because he wasn't Hillary.
6
The smear has started.
This is exactly how fake news starts. I want to see proof of the injuries the woman claims. Why was bail set at $50,000? That makes a case for the idea that there is truth behind the allegations.
Let's wait and see what the truth is before we pass judgement. Remember the e-mail "scandal" that wasn't and remember the former fake-news guru from fox is now on The Con Don's payroll.
6
Do you believe that Kavanaugh is innocent because there is not a shred of evidence he ever assaulted anyone?
3
Sounds suspicious to me. I like Avennatti. I am going to go with "he didn't do it" until proved otherwise.
If he continues to challenge Trump, some kind of "issue" was inevitable. Please, folks, don't rush to judgement. It could just be (hopefully) a smear campaign tactic.
8
I’m really sorry to read this and hope the allegations are not true. I for one believe Mr. Avenatti is more than a pretty face, more than an ambulance chaser as some have described him.
The question to me is why would someone this smart with presidential ambitions commit an act that would surely upend his chances?
Something smells here.
89
@Nancy Becker Maybe he was upset for having pie on his face after his Kavanaugh accuser client admitted her claim was a fabrication.
10
@Nancy Becker I had the same thought about OJ Simpson. Why would someone who has a thriving acting career and unlimited good will kill his ex-wife?
Humans. So complicated.
Let's wait for the evidence to come out.
7
@desert ratz yes but OJ is not smart. Avenatti is
4
My first reaction as a man is emotional. And I’m sympathetic with Avenatti. There may be deeper, unpleasant, and more fundamental truths about the exact nature of male - female relationships that we’d prefer to deny.
Don't we believe all woman, even if absolutely no evidence exists to support a claim?
5
@Jon: That sounds like the justification for a payback character assassination job.
3
Michael Avenatti is not a person that I like. His general tone and demeanor I find highly offensive, and I think his character to be reproachable. However, he deserves the presumption of innocence in a court of law just like everyone else. But I can't help but notice the irony that he's spent much of his career attempting to destroy the lives of others with highly publicized allegations - many of which never received a trial. As Justice Kavanaugh said in his hearings, "What goes around comes around."
I think it's also important to note that he was charged with felony (not misdemeanor) "domestic violence with visible injury." That means there's a woman out there with a bruised face who has testified under penalty of perjury that Avenatti was responsible for the bruises. And if memory serves, I believe that this charge also requires the woman to be someone whom he, at the very least, had a "dating relationship" with. I will hold my judgement until the facts come in (in this day and age you never know), but it seems as if the evidence is not falling on his side of the fence.
15
@Jon K ... " presumption of innocence "? But why? As we were constantly reminded during the Kavanaugh hearings, the proceedings were not a trial; hence, no presumption of innocence. Likewise, Avenatti. And why are liberals so discombobulated? The guy is a nasty shyster. Hopefully he now departs the public stage.
4
Perhaps it's not a woman.
9
I'm skeptical, which is what I think makes sense. As much as I applaud the Me Too movement, it is also clear that "the other side" can all too easily use false accusations to their advantage. All it takes is a total lack of integrity and a willingness to fight dirty, which is exactly how I would describe Donald Trump. I would need a lot more information on this one to presume guilt. This movement has been leveraged strategically and politically to bring down the image of the left in the past, including the quick dismissal of Al Franken on what seemed rather flimsy claims. His request for an investigation got him nowhere. I respect the movement, but remember, we are playing chess with some very evil dudes on the right. After all of the evidence I heard about Kav., I had no problem realizing that he was very probably guilty of attempted rape, an extremely serious crime. But this feels to me like it could be a set-up. I also feel that way about Alec Baldwin's supposed altercation last week. I'm a feminist, but I refuse to be manipulated by right wing tactics.
26
I believe her.
Actually I have no opinion or information one way or the other on the matter. I am just willing to abandon presumption of innocence when it suits my political purposes and choose to still maintain it when I see fit.
8
@Mary Pernal
I gave up feminism exactly because of #MeToo. Any movement that allows for and gives traction to anonymous allegation will be used for revenge at worst and manipulation at least. Whatever the case may be with Avenatti, why even publish this "news" with so little actual information as to the true nature of the circumstances and the name of his accuser?
@Mary Pernal
Mary, Mary, please just be honest. You don't have any sincere convictions. It depends completely upon which side is accused.
Kavanaugh might have been guilty, but he was certainly never arrested nor charged, and the only evidence was the accuser's testimony.
Avenatti has been arrested and charged with a felony, and there reportedly is a woman with facial injuries.
And Alec Baldwin- my opinion of him was cemented years ago when I heard a recording of the phone call when he brutally berated his 12 year old daughter. Come on, Mary. Just be honest.
Your moral positions are based upon convenience, not conviction.
"...arrested on suspicion of..."
Interesting but the facts are not known yet, so let's not jump on any bandwagon quite yet folks.
3
So Democrats want to hitch their wagons to a guy that acts most like the guy we hate? So we are giving up our morals because of someone on the other side that has none? This guy represents porno stars, rips off his business partners and is not a good person. How come we are even nice to him. Have we no shame. I don't get it. We are now in the cellar with Trump. Avenatti treated like a hero. We have a problem
@Thomas Lashby read more of the comments. Democrats aren't hitching themselves to this person's wagon at all. He's just another guy.
1
Mr. Avenatti's former wife has declared categorically that she is not a victim of his alleged abuse. There is everything we don't know and not much that we do know, so the possibility exists that this allegation is a set-up job. There are some nasty folks out there who would like nothing better than to see Avenatti's career derailed.
15
@John lebaron
That only leaves x number of ex-wives, paramours , if any, opposing female counsel and ...
Of course we need to wait for the evidence before condemning him, but it is certainly noteworthy that the same people shouting "set up" or "let's hear the whole story" are largely the same folks who were joyously supportive of Avenatti when he brought forth an accuser in the Kavanough hearings and had zero interest in presuming the judge's innocence.
Provides a real time (and sad) snapshot of how so many are blinded by their own biases in either direction and explains how folks who believe differently struggle to talk to each other.
10
@Harpooner
Kavanaugh's own testimony basically supported that accusations against him.
And charges of attempted rape aside, he very clearly lied to the Senate during the hearings for his appointment to the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.
6
He should never be a Supreme Court Justice.
2
Oh...he's entitled to exonerate himself? He's entitled to due process? The accuser has to prove the accusations?
Why wasn't Judge Kavanaugh entitled to the same rights? His client Julie Swetnick, lied. She lied under oath. He facilitated the lies of a woman who accused a federal judge of gang rape but then admitted she never met him. That's ok, but now he wants due process?
Don't tell me the Kavanaugh hearings were a "job interview". I've had a lot of job interviews but I was never sworn in and never accused of a felony.
Julie Swetnick, Judy Munro-Leighton, and Avenatti all belong in jail for committing perjury in submitting affidavits to Congress that were lies.
Every fair minded person who disparaged Kavanaugh, felt he should not be allowed on the Supreme Court, or in any way enabled the denial of due process, presumption of innocence, and the abrogation of the principles of juvenile justice should apologize to Kavanaugh and admit in the passion of the moment you believed someone, who while believable, must be cross-examined and could provide NO evidence or corroboration.
Innocent until proven guilty. No proof = innocence.
Avenatti deserves punishment for whatever the law can prove he did. And if it isn't true that he committed domestic violence he should be acquitted and then indicted for perjury.
If so, perhaps he'll know how it feels to be accused of a crime he didn't commit and then judged by mob opinion.
11
Not sure this passes the smell test!
4
I believe her.
7
Have you any idea who she is?
4
I believe Tony.
@John lebaron He is just repeating the refrain of all of Dr Ford's supporters.
1
What happened to "I believe her"?
This guy is so obviously a cockroach, with failed businesses, bankruptcies, tax liens, a long path of disgruntled clients and partners, the showboating, the lies, the obvious need to be seen.
All the earmarks of a violent, narcissistic abuser. Calling him "creepy porn lawyer" is an insult to creepy porn lawyers. I hope he rots.
9
@Jackson
You enumerate most of the traits that characterize the current POTUS. Many americans are unconcerned that our national leader is a vile jalopy of corroded morals however for you trump must be living hell.
8
@Jackson the fact that he represented a porn star is the least of my worries. She turned out to have more integrity and straight-forwardness than anyone else in the entire presidential administration.
4
False accusations? If so, perhaps karma? What goes around comes around?
7
@BD exactly...makes one wonder if this isn't a payback with a fraudulent complaint??
This is not surprising. He seems overly aggressive in his manner, a trait many lay people think a lawyer should possess but is not a trait to my liking. This incident doesn't have any bearing on Stormy, and her claims, except as a possible reason for her to change lawyers.
5
IMO, I find it a somewhat sketchy accusation. The timing just isn’t right. The Stormy Daniels lawsuit against trump is still active. I have no doubt in my mind and in my heart of hearts that trump has something to do with a setup. He’ll do anything to avoid another lawsuit. Including paying another woman to be part of it. Trump does so much to hurt anyone and everyone that gets in his way. Just short of having them poisoned, Putin-like. But with him, you never know what he’ll cook up next.
5
Dec. 5 will hopefully decide this matter. Unfortunately, we have reached a point in the never-ending news cycle where people really are guilty until proven innocent. Even if untrue, this charge will be held against Avanatti forever.
4
It's distressing that people are using Avenatti's ex-wife's denial of abuse as evidence that he did not, in fact, commit abuse. Obviously they have never been on the other end of a powerful's man's fist. The police report cited "visible injury." Avenatti may well turn out to be a fierce advocate of women's rights in the exact mold of disgraced former NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
10
This article marginalizes the fact that Mr. Avenatti engineered false accusations against Brett Kavanaugh timed to coincide with the movement by the Democratic Party to obstruct his nomination to the Supreme Court. Avenatti's client’s false news was rendered credible by this and other newspapers. If false news disqualifies Alex Jones from having a media platform does it also disqualify the legacy media?
10
@Michael Hoffman I think the person who made sure that Avenatti's client's claims did not see the light of day in the Senate was the muddled and ancient "Chuck" Grassley--- who should be put out to pasture and denied food, and also made to return the millions of dollars he accepted from the NRA that resulted in mass shootings of children all over the US. Grassley gave us Kavanaugh, our first SCOTUS justice who is an assaulter and a lunatic drunk. I would believe Avanatti anyday over Grassley, the lying Kavanaugh and those lying Republican members of Grassley's boys club.
12
Need more info. Until that comes I will consider this a "setup" by one of Avenatti's "enemies."
39
Congress or other authorities must investigate the sources of accusations against Avenetti. These accusations are punishment for opposing his majesty. Are we now under a dictatorship?
36
@Fred Maslow Of course, hadn't you heard?
Trial by innuendo? Suspicion of domestic violence? Don't the police need a complaint before arrests? And isn't the accused entitled to know the identity of the accuser? The former wives of the guy denied he abused them. Who is behind all this? Very fishy stuff.
45
@candideinnc
Totally agree, very fishy stuff, sounds like a Roger Stone trick.
6
@candideinnc ... yes, quite similar to the accusations against Kavanaugh.
9
@BD There were named accusers of Kavanaugh. Nothing here.
3
We have a large headline with no details regarding accusations and denials all sort of as our "fake news" President behaves .
Maybe as stated by some people Mr. Trump has truly met his match with Mr. Avenatti.
6
Women who have experience interacting with abusive males will not be surprised by this. Avenatti has always come off as disingenuous and a showman. Frustrating that he took advantage of the #metoo movement and will now be used by right wingers and misogynists to discredit women who come forward about abuse and assault.
8
@JD
Exactly as our President behaves and we shall see what happens in time sort of story ,"It ain't over till it's over".
4
After learning that Avenatti fired a pregnant employee from his now bankrupt coffee company my eyes were wide open. This is just more of the same from a shyster lawyer.
5
Domestic abuse allegations may hurt his chances running for President as a democrat, but it basically makes him a shoo-in to land a top job in the Trump administration.
12
A police report would seem to lend "credibility" to the allegation. Are all of the people who called for drawn out FBI investigation and stood behind Dr Ford going to go after this man now?
6
@Sweeney
You're kidding, aren't you? Even as a juror, we're told not to take police testimony as TRUTH, just because the police claim it is. I wonder how many people in Boston trust the cops? Blue Brotherhood over truth is what is valued, over and over again.
2
@Sweeney So far I haven't seen ANY instances where Democrats tried to ignore OR cover up allegations of misbehavior the way Republicans do. Republicans are always accusing Democrats of indulging in cover-ups because they (Republicans) don't understand there are more ethical ways to respond.
4
@Rita Prangle "I did not have sexual relations with that woman." "This is—the great story here for anybody willing to find it and write about it and explain it is this vast right-wing conspiracy that has been conspiring against my husband since the day he announced for president." HRC
Let's see the evidence at the hearing. If he's guilty, shame on him. On the other hand, if this is a GOP/Trump dirty trick - certainly a Roger Stone/Roy Cohn - inspired possibility, shame on them!!
PS - If I were to lay a bet, my twenty bucks is on the latter!
59
@kg in oly wa
Were you saying that for Kavanaugh? Does the presumption of innocence only apply to Democrats?
7
@Jon K Yes, I certainly was saying the same thing. Mr. Kavanaugh's transgressions needed to be fully investigated by the FBI, so that a full and impartial hearing be held. Dr. Ford was asking for that as well. IMO, that would be the only way for Mr. Kavanaugh to sit on SCOTUS w/o an asterisk next to his name.
You don't believe that the rush-job of a kangaroo hearing really got to the truth, do you?
7
Avenatti had to expect this, after what has been happening with Mueller and the Russian investigation it looks like Trump's people are reaching out to attack those that have attacked Trump.
He should have the FBI look into it but then Trump would get the report first and we know what happens after that.
21
Human beings are reliably disappointing.
19
@K
Wow, kinda quick to judge the charges eh? You assume this is true? Might be, but we should at least have a 4 day FBI investigation....
Now you are seeing some of the very bad consequences of the feminists successes in getting laws changed and government power exercised for their selfish interests.
Here a SECRET accuser can now get someone arrested for domestic abuse. It is all very suspicious. Did the Trump people get the help of the LAPD and some former girlfriend of Avenatti, the lawyer representing Trump's feminist nemesis, to "get" Avenatti?
21
Shame on him!! There were folks that thought he could be someone to represent justice and fairness against the powerful and rich. But he is no different from Trump : seeking publicity all the time and exploring the media to fuel his enormous ego! Maybe Trump is right in one thing : the guy is a third class lawyer and completely phony! He's got already way more than his 15 minutes of fame. Enough!!
9
@RichMay -- hey!! let's all stop hyperventilating and wait until we have some evidence one way or the other.
24
@RichMay in the words of trump...innocent until proven guilty. Sounds like you have jumped the gun. Wait for due process.
4