Stormy Daniels was arrested in part of a long-term human trafficking investigation. Her lawyer, Michael Avenatti called it a «sting operation.»
Undercover police arrested adult film star Stormy Daniels after her show at a strip club in Columbus, Ohio, on July 12 in what her attorney is calling a “sting operation.”
Daniels’ attorney, Michael Avenatti, told MSNBC that police arrested and charge Daniels with three counts of illegally touching a patron.
“Unbeknownst to her, the police had set up a sting operation within the strip club with multiple officers,” Avenatti claimed.
According to Avenatti, two officers went on stage and “asked her if they could place their face in between her breasts while she was performing on stage.”
Avenatti refused to comment on what happened next.
The two undercover female cops arrested Daniels.
MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle pressed Avenatti on Daniels’ action, saying, “Inappropriate touching is inappropriate touching.”
Avenatti responded, “If it’s inappropriate. Here’s my view of this, OK? I think this is ridiculous. I think it’s an absurd use of law enforcement resources.”
“Columbus, Ohio,” Ruhle added, “this is a city with more homicides than New York City.”
On Twitter, Avenatti wrote that the arrest was a “setup and politically motivated.”
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
Police say Daniels was arrested as part of a long-term human trafficking investigation that did not impact other policing activities in the city. The report read:
As part of a long-term investigation into allegations of human trafficking, prostitution, along with other vice related violations, Columbus Police arrested three individuals from Club Sirens at 6190 Cleveland Ave., during the early morning hours of July 12,2018.
Those arrested were Stephanie Clifford (AKA “Stormy Daniels”) of Forney, Texas, Miranda Panda of Marion, Ohio, and Brittany Walters of Pickerington, Ohio. All three were charged with Illegal Sexually Oriented Activity in a Sexually Oriented Business. Clifford received a total of three counts of the same violation for illegally touching three different undercover Vice detectives.
Since last fall, Columbus Police were made aware of illegal activity through various adult entertainment club throughout the city. Columbus Police have made numerous arrests utilizing this law. The Division investigates in these operations routinely with no effect on other calls for service.
BREAKING: Police say Stormy Daniels’ arrest part of long-term human trafficking investigation pic.twitter.com/7rSduPfn8l
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 12,2018
According to Avenatti, Daniels was released from jail, and the charges were dropped:
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
Daniels was charged under an Ohio statute that read, “No person who regularly appears nude… shall knowingly touch a patron.”
Avenatti argued that Daniels does not regularly appear at Club Sirens. In turn, prosecutors dropped the charges.
Daniels undoubtedly appreciated the work of Avenatti and previously referred to him as Michelangelo. Avenatti has also hinted that he may run for president in 2020.
