Lawyer Michael Avenatti says his chances of running a successful presidential bid in 2020 “have only gone up” following his arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence and public criticism from his highest-profile client, adult-film star Stormy Daniels.
“I think the field is shaping up to be even more advantageous for someone like me, not less,” Avenatti told Politico in an article published Sunday. “I think my chances have only gone up, not gone down.”
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Avenatti elaborated in an email to The Hill, saying he is “still seriously considering” running for president.
“If the Democrats think they can beat Donald Trump without taking him on directly and aggressively, they are kidding themselves,” Avenatti said in the email. “Unfortunately, many of the likely candidates are simply not tough enough or battle tested enough to beat him.”
“Inspiration is great but it’s not going to get the job done against a bully like Trump,” he added.
The Los Angeles district attorney’s office declined to press a felony charge against Avenatti in the pending domestic violence case, but the city attorney is still reviewing it as a misdemeanor case.
Avenatti has unequivocally denied the allegation from Miniutti, expressing confidence that he would be fully exonerated by any case.
He and Daniels have also been feuding publicly, with Daniels last week claiming that Avenatti would not tell her how much money he raised for her legal defense through a crowdfunding site. Avenatti told Politico that he has given her a “full and complete accounting” of the fundraising effort.
Daniels also said Avenatti sued President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE for defamation without her permission.
Avenatti and Daniels became an anti-Trump power duo on cable news networks this year, as Daniels sued the president and his former lawyer to void a nondisclosure agreement that prevented her from speaking publicly about her alleged 2006 affair with Trump.
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Avenatti has been eyeing a bid for the presidency for months, but some Democrats have stepped back from him in the wake of the domestic violence controversy.