Stormy Daniels was arrested in Ohio early Thursday morning after performing at Sirens in Columbus. Stormy is the adult film actress who shot to fame after suing President Donald Trump following claims that they had an affair.
Stormy’s lawyer, Michael Avenatti, has said he believes that the arrest was a “politically motivated” setup.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, faced three misdemeanor charges after being accused of grabbing the rear of an undercover officer who was at her scheduled show. She was later released after posting bail to the amount of $6,054, according to CNN, and the charges were later dropped.
Avenatti tweeted earlier: “She was arrested for allegedly allowing a customer to touch her while on stage in a nonsexual manner! Are you kidding me? They are devoting law enforcement resources to sting operations for this? There has to be higher priorities.”
Avenatti argued that Stormy was performing the same routine that she had been doing regularly across the nation as she toured dozens of strip clubs.
“This was a setup & politically motivated. It reeks of desperation,” another Avenatti tweet said. “We will fight all bogus charges.”
Just rcvd word that my client @StormyDaniels was arrested in Columbus Ohio whole performing the same act she has performed across the nation at nearly a hundred strip clubs. This was a setup & politically motivated. It reeks of desperation. We will fight all bogus charges. #Basta
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018
She was arrested for allegedly allowing a customer to touch her while on stage in a non sexual manner! Are you kidding me? They are devoting law enforcement resources to sting operations for this? There has to be higher priorities!!! #SetUp #Basta
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018
We expect her to be released on bail shortly. We also expect that she will be charged with a misdemeanor for allowing “touching.” We will vehemently contest all charges. #Basta
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018
Michael Avenatti also revealed via tweet that Stormy Daniels plans to plead not guilty to all the charges surrounding her Ohio arrest.
My client @StormyDaniels will issue a plea of “Not Guilty” to the three misdemeanor charges.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018
The charges against Stormy Daniels were related to an Ohio law which prevents employees who are nude or semi-nude to touch customers unless they are family.
According to court records, Stormy had reportedly touched the breasts of females in attendance before allegedly pushing the faces of two undercover officers down into her own cleavage.
Another officer was reportedly touched when Stormy allegedly approached and forced his head between her breasts before hitting him in the face with one of them.
At that point, Stormy and two other unnamed individuals were arrested at the club and transported to a local jail.
Stormy Daniels was scheduled to perform at the Sirens Gentlemen’s Club again on Thursday night but after being arrested made an announcement that the second night was canceled.
Avenatti later confirmed that the charges against his client had been “dismissed in their entirety”.
I am pleased to report that the charges against my client @stormydaniels have been dismissed in their entirety (below motion was just granted). I want to thank Joe Gibson & his colleagues at the prosecutors ofc for their professionalism starting with our first call early this am. pic.twitter.com/xHPSWsyqM2
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018