The woman who claims she was assaulted by anti-Trump Hollywood lawyer Michael Avenatti filed for a restraining order, TMZ reports.
TMZ names the woman as Mareli Miniutti, an actress who most recently was in “Ocean’s Eight.” Avenatti was arrested on felony domestic abuse and released on $50,000 bail last Wednesday, though at the time the name of the accuser had not been made public.
Bonnie Zevala and Mareli Miniutti attend Haute Living Celebrates Josh Duhamel Presented By Westime on May 19, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Rochelle Brodin/Getty Images for Haute Living)
After The Blast initially wrote the story Monday evening, Avenatti tweeted, “I look forward to a full clearing of my name and disclosure of all of the facts. I have NEVER abused a woman or committed domestic violence against anyone. Any claim to the contrary is completely bogus and fabricated. I am a target. And I will be exonerated.”
I look forward to a full clearing of my name and disclosure of all of the facts. I have NEVER abused a woman or committed domestic violence against anyone. Any claim to the contrary is completely bogus and fabricated. I am a target. And I will be exonerated.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) November 20, 2018
He further accused TMZ of ignoring “conclusive evidence” that shows its story is false, and he threatened to sue the outlet if it did not retract the story.
Avenatti has maintained his innocence since the arrest.
“I want to thank the hard-working men and women of the LAPD for their professionalism and their work today. They had no option in light of the allegations. Secondly, I have never struck a woman. I never will strike a woman. I have been an advocate for women’s rights my entire career and I’m going to continue to be an advocate. I’m not going to be intimidated from stopping what I am doing,” he said in a press conference after he was released on bail.
Avenatti has accused pro-Trump activist Jacob Wohl of being responsible for the arrest, but was not specific in how he was involved. (RELATED: Stormy Daniels: I Will Fire Avenatti If Allegations True)
“First Mueller and now me. When we are fully exonerated I am coming for you Jacob Wohl aka Surefire,” Avenatti wrote.
Despite the arrest, he is reportedly still considering running for the Democratic nomination for 2020 to go up against President Donald Trump.
Avenatti did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
