Film actress Mareli Miniutti filed a restraining order against attorney Michael Avenatti in Los Angeles on Monday, a few days after Avenatti was arrested and charged with felony domestic violence.
Avenatti, who shot to fame after he represented adult-film star Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against President Trump, was picked up by the LAPD last Wednesday after a woman accused him of beating her, pulling her off a bed, and verbally abusing her the day before after an argument over money.
TMZ has since reported that Miniutti was the woman who accused Avenatti of assaulting her last week, and she has confirmed as much according to a report from The Blast.
“I look forward to a full clearing of my name and disclosure of all of the facts,” Avenatti wrote on Twitter after news of the restraining order broke Monday. “I am a target. And I will be exonerated.”
“I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night,” the lawyer said shortly after he was released on $50,000 bail. “Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation. I have never struck a woman. I never will strike a woman. I have been an advocate for women’s rights my entire career and I’m going to continue to be an advocate. I’m not going to be intimidated from stopping what I am doing.”
Avenatti added on Twitter Tuesday that TMZ’s reporting ignored “conclusive evidence” that he is innocent, and threatened to sue the gossip site, which broke the original story of his arrest.
The restraining order will be considered in court next month.