Updated: 1:27 pm, July 12
The attorney for porn actress Stormy Daniels says prosecutors have dropped all charges against her following her overnight arrest at an Ohio adult club.
Michael Avenatti represents Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. He said Thursday afternoon in a tweet he was pleased prosecutors dropped the charges and thanked them for their professionalism.
A prosecutor's memo provided by Avenatti says an Ohio illegal touching law can't be enforced because Daniels has only appeared once at the Columbus club.
The law refers to someone "who regularly appears nude or seminude" at a club.
Messages were left with the Columbus city prosecutor's office seeking comment.
Original Story
Porn actress Stormy Daniels was arrested at a Columbus strip club and is accused of letting patrons touch her in violation of a state law, her attorney said early Thursday.
While Daniels was performing Wednesday night at Sirens, a strip club on Cleveland Avenue, some patrons touched her in a "non-sexual" way, her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, told The Associated Press.
An Ohio law known as the Community Defense Act prohibits anyone who isn't a family member to touch a nude or semi-nude dancer.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is set for arraignment Friday on three misdemeanor counts of touching a patron at a "sexually oriented" business in violation of an Ohio strip club law.
She was released on bail before 6 a.m. Thursday.
"This was a complete set up," he said. "It's absurd that law enforcement resources are being spent to conduct a sting operation related to customers touching performers in a strip club in a non-sexual manner."
Avenatti posted on Twitter on Thursday morning that Daniels will plead not guilty to three misdemeanor 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
My client @StormyDaniels will issue a plea of “Not Guilty” to the three misdemeanor charges.— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018
A Columbus police spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment. A person who answered the phone at the strip club declined to comment.
Daniels has said she had sex with President Donald Trump in 2006, when he was married, which Trump has denied. She's suing Trump and his former longtime personal attorney, Michael Cohen, and seeking to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement that she signed days before the 2016 presidential election.
Daniels was scheduled to perform Wednesday and Thursday night, according to Sirens' website. Avenatti Tweeted that Daniels will not be performing on Thursday night.
Official Statement From @StormyDaniels: As a result of what happened last night, I will unfortunately be unable to go forward with tonight's scheduled performance. I deeply apologize to my fans in Columbus.— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018
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