Portrait of Michael Avenatti (Image: Wikimedia)
An actress from New York filed a petition in California on Monday to obtain a restraining order against lawyer Michael Avenatti, who was arrested in Los Angeles last week on suspicion of felony domestic violence.
Mareli Miniutti‘s petition was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court’s Santa Monica branch, according to court records.
According to The Daily Beast, court documents revealed Miniutti claimed that Avenatti violently dragged her out of bed, hit her in the face with pillows and called her an “ungrateful bitch.” She also alleged the attorney warned her not to “disrespect him.”
Miniutti’s follow-up hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 10. The actress had a minor, uncredited role in the summer film Ocean’s 8 and will also appear in Kurt Russell‘s upcoming movie Crypto.
Avenatti, the 47-year-old attorney for porn star Stormy Daniels and several other women, denied the domestic violence charges against him last week and issued a new statement on Twitter Monday shortly after the news of Miniutti’s petition was announced.
“I look forward to a full clearing of my name and disclosure of all of the facts. I have NEVER abused a woman or committed domestic violence against anyone. Any claim to the contrary is completely bogus and fabricated. I am a target. And I will be exonerated,” Avenatti tweeted.
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Avenatti was held on $50,000 bail last week and was released shortly after his arrest.
I wish to thank the hard working men and women of the LAPD for their professionalism,” Avenatti said in a statement released the day of the arrest. “They were only doing their jobs in light of the completely bogus allegations against me.”
The lawyer’s wife and ex-wife both came out in support of him, as did Daniels. Avenatti also accused right-wing conspiracy theorist Jacob Wohl of setting him up to be arrested. Avenatti has gained attention over the last year for his attacks against President Donald Trump and his allies.
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