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Michael Avenatti Posts Bail After Being Booked On Domestic Violence Charge

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA/AP) —  Michael Avenatti was taken into custody by Los Angeles police Wednesday following a domestic abuse allegation, a law enforcement official said.

Avenatti was booked on a felony domestic violence charge, said LAPD. His bail was set at $50,000. Avenatti posted bail and was released.

Police responded to a domestic violence call on Tuesday and took a report. The alleged incident took place in the Century City area of West L.A.

The official told the Associated Press that Avenatti was taken into custody Wednesday. Police had responded to a domestic violence incident a day earlier and took a report.

The official wasn't authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Avenatti remained in custody Wednesday evening and a call and text message seeking comment weren't immediately returned.

Avenatti is best known as the lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels, who has said she had sex with President Donald Trump in 2006. Trump has denied having an affair.

Avenatti is also mulling a 2020 presidential run.

On Wednesday evening the lawyer for Avenatti's estranged wife, Lisa-Storie Avenatti, issued a statement denying that she was subjected to domestic violence on Tuesday night and that she wasn't at Avenatti's apartment the night of the alleged incident. The statement said that her client "states that there has never been domestic violence in her relationship with Michael and that she has never known Michael to be physically violent toward anyone."

CNN correspondent Kyung Lah tweeted out a statement from Avenatti that says:

"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."

The Vermont Democratic Party canceled events planned for Friday and Saturday, where Avenatti was scheduled to speak, and is refunding ticket sales.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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