Something weird is going on with Avenatti's Twitter account.

[PearliePoo2]

I checked his tweets very early this morning and I read a new one that basically said his client was going to do her interview when SHE was ready and when they were sure all safety concerns were established. He expected the interview to take place in the next 36 hours.

I went back later to check for updates and his twitter is basically shut down. A blank page has the following text:

This account's Tweets are protected.
Only confirmed followers have access to @MichaelAvenatti's Tweets and complete profile. Click the "Follow" button to send a follow request.

Is he being attacked, harassed or threatened now? Is somebody playing hardball?

[jezebel321]

1. yes, I just posted this in an earlier thread. I checked his feed this morning and it's locked? weird

nt

[PearliePoo2]

13. My first immediate thought was somebody sees him as a dangerous threat.

For the republicans and their SCOTUS pick they are now playing for ALL the marbles. Who knows what they may do when they are this desperate.

Avenatti's twitter has never been shut down before as far as I know. He's a strong guy and not likely to ever be bullied.

I'm thinking whatever's going on must be pretty bad.

[Achilleaze]

2. russian trolls hacking in response to a republican S.O.S.?

probably

[SWBTATTReg]

3. I had heard that he had a run in w/ one of the tweeters (who tweeted something pretty ...

mean/nasty/etc.)...perhaps this is why? Or, Avenatti is pissing off some people who are mad and out to 'get' him. Pathetic losers, as though they are really to silence this man. If anything, what they are doing, is giving Avenatti a megaphone, which I'll hope he'll use to good effect (I'm sure he will too).

[Princess Turandot]

24. That was a private school head (principal). After Avenatti retweeted it, the school fired the guy.

[dameatball]

26. Not to be picky, but I read that they had suspended him. Not sure if he will be fired.

Might be a good way for the school to get rid of him.

[spanone]

4. works fine for me...

[rzemanfl]

6. RU a follower? n/t

[spanone]

9. Yes.

[rzemanfl]

11. That's why it works for you. Please keep us posted. n/t

[PearliePoo2]

21. Thanks! That explains it then. I'm not signed up for Twitter. Not sure yet if I will.

[jezebel321]

7. do you follow his feed? If so you would still be able to see it. nt

[rzemanfl]

5. I imagine, since the trolls and bots seem to be out here, the same is true for his Twitter. n/t

[spooky3]

8. He posted this message:

“I was just forced to make my account private because the bots and Russian trolls are out in full force due to my representation re Kavanaugh. I will change this back as soon as I am able.”

[PearliePoo2]

16. Thank you! I don't have a Twitter account. I'm still on the fence about getting one.

[blaze]

25. I have tweeted a handful of times

but, for the most part, I just follow people.

You can follow as few or as many people as you want. I just follow a few because I think more would get to be a bit overwhelming. Plus, it's super easy to follow or unfollow. If there's an active trial going on, I'll find a journalist who's actively giving updates. Maddow, of course. Richard Engel (he's not very active on Twitter.) NY's AG, because she totally rocks. Past President of Estonia for unique Russia perspective (and I went to HS with him).

Really. You can just remain a lurker and shuffle around who you follow. Kinda like a play list.

[PearliePoo2]

32. Thanks for that information!

When you apply to "Follow" someone, do they then have to decide to accept you?

If I signed up for Twitter, I would be brand new with no followers, NO tweets, NO NOTHING! Who would want me? lol

[blaze]

37. Yes, you start with no followers

and that's just fine.

You don't have to have a single follower. I have 3. (And you can mute, block or report any followers)

edit to add: No. You do not have to be approved to follow. You click "Follow" and it's a done deal. (Until or unless you decide to "Unfollow".

[yuiyoshida]

10. ITS UP AND running now

He said had trouble with Russian bots and threats from the Right wingers'

[rzemanfl]

12. Do you follow him? n/t

[yuiyoshida]

14. Yes of course

though I guess he is way to busy follow back. But I comment on his stuff from time to time.

[rzemanfl]

15. That's probably why it works for you. n/t

[yuiyoshida]

17. I don't think you can block certain type of people

on twitter, I am not sure how he is dealing with threats that come his way other than to silence them individually. It not like, well block everyone with a Red Tag and keep the Blue ones, cause they are all democrats. It doesn't work that way.

[rzemanfl]

19. Followers are/were the only ones allowed in from what I have seen. n/t

[yuiyoshida]

23. Except you know when people are following you

[meow2u3]

43. Trumpanzees made it easy to know who to block

Many of them have a red X by their user names, so feel free to block away.

[Honeycombe8]

36. His acct is temporarily blocked from NON-followers. I follow, so not blocked to me.

Notice the lock by his name on his acct pg.

[yuiyoshida]

46. OH...

cool. Thanks.

[ismnotwasm]

18. Says this

“I was just forced to make my account private because the bots and Trump trolls are out in full force due to my representation re Kavanaugh. I will change this back as soon as I am able.”

[libdem4life]

20. Call me "unsurprised".

I did worry that he's becoming a bit too aggressive. On, I think it was Rachel's show, he was almost yelling for the entire interview. He had his regular responses, but his voice had a tinge of loud emphasis, let's just say. Not entirely panic...but not his usual casual, cocky cool.

Now that his Twitter is closed down, doesn't look good. I've been impressed thus far, but stringing out the PR on this new "victim", even after stating her credentials. He needs to come out with the info, or forever hold his peace. Maybe she changed her mind or didn't want to be part of this? I thought naming all of her credentials in advance was a misstep. Who would come out at this point...especially as it seems it's not going to matter anyway. Sad for all of us...sad for the US.

[PearliePoo2]

22. Yes, I saw that interview and I think you've nailed his demeanor.

This is about as serious as it ever gets. A Supreme Court Justice. They will be out to get him any way they can. I seriously hope he has security 24/7.

The one tweet I was able to read said he expects her public interview will be in the next 36 hours but ONLY when SHE was ready and all her safety concerns were taken care of.

[rzemanfl]

27. I read it as "mad as hell" we'll see. n/t

[Alhena]

29. Maybe Kavanaugh's adult virgin proclamation gave his client cold feet

[Honeycombe8]

35. Makes no sense. His client(s) haven't alleged rape by Kavanaugh. nt

[libdem4life]

38. They are truly scared of him. He has no fear and flaunts it.

But he can only go so far. i think I read he may not be able to depose the president as he's claimed. That will be a Big Fail. That's up to the court...and they are part of the establishment that he's flaunting. Maybe some buddy of Kava---no or some buddy called them. Got some doubts now.

[Honeycombe8]

33. It's not closed. It's temporarily blocked to non-followers 'cause of bots & trolls.

So if you were a follower, it's not blocked to you.

The bots & trolls are to such an extent that it seems to be a coordinated plan to make his twitter account ineffectual, so that a tweet from him is sparse, compared with the ones trying to keep him from speaking.

[Kingofalldems]

28. Here you go:

Link to tweet

We had an OP last night claiming Democrats were getting weary of Avenatti or something to that effect. Turns out it was one Senate staffer.

[brooklynite]

30. Here's the answer:

Michael Avenatti
?
Verified account

@MichaelAvenatti

I was just forced to make my account private because the bots and Trump trolls are out in full force due to my representation re Kavanaugh. I will change this back as soon as I am able.

[libdem4life]

34. I hope he does. But what about the woman?

If I were in her place, with all of this political football, I might rethink. The Boors/Cretins are out in force. They have more power than the pissant men who shove little girls into bedrooms.

[Honeycombe8]

31. It's not blocked if you are a follower. It's not blocked to me, since I "followed" him.

He says it's blocked temporarily because of bots & trolls. He'll unblock, when the bots & trolls are taken care of.

[jberryhill]

39. He does this periodically to boost followers

The last time he did this was back in May/June-ish. It's like Tinkerbell at the end of Peter Pan. You have to clap harder to make him come back. It's mind boggling to me that people's memories are so short they don't remember the last time he did this.

Whether one limits the readability of one's tweets to followers or anyone in general (or whether they can be inline posted on internet forums), has utterly nothing to do with being "attacked, harassed, threatened" etc..

It's simply a stunt to boost his follower numbers. it doesn't have some magic effect on bots, trolls, etc..

Now, go click "follow" and you can read all of his tweets.

[PearliePoo2]

40. "It's like Tinkerbell at the end of Peter Pan. You have to clap harder to make him come back."

That's funny!

[pnwmom]

41. I clicked follow an hour ago and it still says "pending." So it doesn't happen automatically,

or, at least, quickly.

[jberryhill]

42. I'm also surprised people use these things without knowing how they work

https://resources.audiense.com/blog/protected-tweets-twitter-work

What happens when I protect my Tweets?

When you protect your Tweets and make your Twitter account private, only your current followers will be able to see your Tweets.

Accounts with protected Tweets require each user to request to follow. You are able to manually approve and select who is able to see your Tweets.

The retweet function is disabled on Tweets you post, so anything you post remains entirely within your account. Your followers are NOT able to share your content, they can only favorite it. You are still able to retweet other public users though.

Protected Tweets do not appear in search engines like Google and third party sites, like Favstar, are not able to archive them.

Protected Tweets are only searchable by you, the owner of the Twitter account, and your followers. Previously posted public Tweets will still be searchable in Google.

Unless the user in question follows you too, mentions (i.e. @KatyPerry I love you!!!) will not be seen by the user in question because they do not have permission to see your Tweets.

[pnwmom]

44. Okay, but that doesn't explain what you meant by this:

Now, go click "follow" and you can read all of his tweets.

Like I said, it isn't automatic. I'm mostly a lurker on Twitter, so maybe I won't be deemed follow-worthy. (I have heard some tweeters use software to decide about which followers to accept.)

[jberryhill]

45. They're making a list, and checking it twice

You'll be deemed follow-worthy.