The Los Angeles district attorney declined to prosecute attorney Michael Avenatti on felony domestic abuse charges today, and instead referred allegations that he roughed up his girlfriend to the city attorney for a possible misdemeanor case.
A case presented today by #LosAngeles police involving attorney Michael Avenatti has been referred to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office for misdemeanor filing consideration, the #LACounty District Attorney’s Office announced. @CityAttorneyLA @LAPDHQ #LADAOffice
— LA District Attorney (@LADAOffice) November 21, 2018
Avenatti, 47, was arrested on a felony domestic violence charge last week after his girlfriend, actress Mareli Miniutti, told police he abused her at his Los Angeles apartment following an argument.
A restraining order against Avenatti was issued after Miniutti said he dragged her by the arm across a bedroom floor.
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.
“This Thanksgiving,” he said, “I am especially grateful for justice.”
My statement re the decision just issued by the LA County District Attorney's Office is below. pic.twitter.com/gCUBpMKP2f
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) November 21, 2018
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 Trump denies.
As Daniels’ lawyer, Avenatti has pursued the president and those close to him relentlessly for months, taunting Trump in interviews and baiting him and his lawyers in tweets.