Attorney Michael Avenatti, who represents adult film star Stormy Daniels in her legal battles with President Donald Trump, was arrested in Los Angeles on Wednesday on suspicion of domestic violence, police confirmed.
Police spokesman Josh Rubenstein told the Los Angeles Times Avenatti was arrested around 2 p.m. local time on Santa Monica Boulevard and was booked into the jail a short time later.
TMZ reported that the alleged victim was a woman, but not Avenatti's estranged wife. The woman, according to the website, had a "swollen and bruised" face and her cheeks had "red marks" on them.
The incident, TMZ reported, happened Tuesday night at an apartment. On Wednesday, the woman allegedly returned to the apartment to pick up some belongings, at which point another confrontation occurred.
TMZ quoted a source who said the woman was outside the apartment building on Wednesday, crying and screaming into a phone, "I can't believe you did this to me. I'm going to get a restraining order against you."
The woman was led into the building by security and a short time later Avenatti showed up. He could be heard yelling, according to TMZ, "She hit me first" and "This is bull****, this is f****** bull****." Security also prevented him from boarding an elevator at the building.
The police were called, and after speaking with Avenatti for five or 10 minutes, he was arrested, TMZ reported.
The Times reported that Avenatti was released in lieu of $50,000 bail. He issued this statement:
"I wish to thank the hard working men and woman of the LAPD for their professionalism, they were only doing their jobs in light of the completely bogus allegations against me. I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night. Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation. I look forward to being fully exonerated."
Avenatti came to national prominence as the lawyer for Daniels, a porn actress whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, who sued Trump for defamation after he denied her assertion that she had a sexual encounter with him in 2006.
That lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge last month. Daniels has filed a separate lawsuit over a $130,000 hush-money agreement stemming from the alleged encounter.
Avenatti's clients have included Julie Swetnick, who accused Brett Kavanaugh of aggressive sexual behavior before his confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Avenatti is also mulling a 2020 presidential run.
Vermont Democrats have cancelled several events with Avenatti following news of the arrest.
R. Christopher Di Mezzo, the communication director for the Vermont Democratic Party, told the Burlington Free Press that Avenatti's appearances in Vermont this weekend were cancelled. He said the party "wasn't going to step in that arena" as a result of the arrest.
The party was set to host Avenatti in Burlington on Friday and in White River Junction on Saturday.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.