Avenatti tweets just now:

[yodermon]

Link to tweet

First Mueller and now me. When we are fully exonerated I am coming for you Jacob Wohl aka Surefire.

Here is "surefire intelligence" claiming credit for the setup:

Link to tweet

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. I was ready to believe these allegations last night

Now, I'm not sure.............

[yodermon]

3. ..and that, i'm afraid, was the entire point of this exercise. :( n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. We might have gotten played here

[FreepFryer]

5. Just maybe. (n/t)

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. Yes

Not really sure what to think at the moment. I've never been part of the Avanatti fan club and wouldn't really be surprised if he actually did something. But the sourcing raises some flags for me too. I guess we'll see.

[lark]

39. His wife says he's never ever hit her.

I believe her and not these rw asses lies.

[Ms. Toad]

105. He was not accused by his wife.

The arrest was based on accusatoins by another woman.

[Autumn]

10. Frequently. nt

[Polly Hennessey]

34. Most of you are always played.

Ready to believe any accusation before knowing the background and facts. We live in a world of dirty tricksters. Be skeptical; think critically before accepting accusations. This type of reaction is what will lead to the ultimate weakening of the “me too” movement.

[Pluvious]

84. Well said.

Politics is a dirty game.

Thanks for your comments.

[calimary]

93. There's a corollary to that, though. Whatever is alleged about

many operatives and other principals from the other side tends to turn out to be true.

I’m glad to see that people here haven’t been suckered, or remain at least somewhat suspicious.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

112. More importantly, it weakens our system of justice.

Trial or investigation by social media or blog doesn't mean a thing except that it can shake public confidence in our normal means for justice.

[Honeycombe8]

117. Yes, I agree. And many were citing Harvey Levin/TMZ (a Nat'l Enquirer-type rag & a Trump mouthpiece)

It was unbelievable. I'm baffled why Democrats were citing a Trump-related mouthpiece as a source for anything that relates in any way to truth. Even after it was shown the rag was lying.

There must be something to the allegations, or Avenatti wouldn't have been arrested. But we don't know what, yet, and we know that the Levin rag was lying about it.

[happy feet]

120. Yup!

[Grasswire2]

68. "We"?

Not everyone.

[PatSeg]

82. I think so

This is becoming much too common.

[marble falls]

88. Some of us did. A lot of weren't fooled for a second.

[CaptYossarian]

119. The entire nation was played.

I'm glad it's a nothingburger, since I'm still pissed over losing Al Franken.

[luvtheGWN]

17. Both his ex-wives have come to his defense

and the alleged victim has not been identified. Would it surprise me that this is a set-up? No, not in the least.

[yuiyoshida]

37. This!

Link to tweet

[still_one]

81. That is what is interesting, why hasn't the alleged victim been identified. There is no reason not

to identify her. Any other celebrity or noteworthy person that would have been released by now.

I am no fan of Avenatti, this does smell as a setup, and it will be interesting to see what comes out in the wash

If this was a setup, I really want to see charges pressed for filing a false police report, along with those responsible getting their asses sued

[Ms. Toad]

106. Did you have the same reaction to all of the women who claimed Kavanaugh

was a perfect gentleman?

[bitterross]

28. WTF? How on earth were you ready to believe?

After the Franken setup, after the Mueller setup, after all the dirty, rotten shit they've done you were ready to take the bait?

[Duppers]

30. +10

[Grasswire2]

69. it's scary to see gullible people in our ranks.

The ratf&%kers could take anyone down, apparently.

[groundloop]

85. I think 'gullible' is too strong of a word.....

Good people feel empathy for victims, that's just human nature (at least among non-deplorables). When we read that a woman had bruises and a swollen face it's normal to feel outraged that someone did this.

As far as whether or not this was a setup or a legitimate police report, well, I chose to wait and see. I do think it's telling when ex-wives come out in support of their former spouse though.... I'd say that most of the time if there were a tendency to violence they'd have witnessed it.

[LiberalLovinLug]

108. Yup, and the RW use that empathy against us

They are cold hearted assholes. Didn't I hear some pundits ridicule the word "empathy"? Like its some liberal disease. Its how they can blithely watch little children being ripped from their mothers arms, sometimes never to be reunited. They can't or just plain refuse to imagine themselves in the same situation.

[smirkymonkey]

99. I think there are a lot of people who wanted to believe it.

Whether it was true or not.

[brush]

75. Don't forget Keith Ellison also.

[certainot]

83. then they blast it out of 1500 radio stations and make excuses when 'fake news' contradicts

[Proud Liberal Dem]

95. I guess it's because I don't like Avanatti very much

I think that he's a bit full of himself and would not be surprised that he could have done something like that + him having been arrested and detained made the allegations seem more serious than somebody making a random allegation.

But it's still early.........

[niyad]

60. since this is the same asshole who went after Mueller. . . .

[FarPoint]

61. I didn't believe it for one second

Tried to encourage folks to wait for the rest if the details, what Michael had to say ..

[calimary]

80. My husband was on it almost immediately. He said "rat-fucking" as soon as he heard.

And “sounds like he’s being smeared.”
And then he said “Roger Stone or somebody?”

I think he’s right. And I wouldn’t be a bit surprised. This is the kind of thing Roy Cohn would be proud of. This is the kind of thing kkkarl rove and lee atwater would be proud of. This sounds like the fantasy dreams of the average College republi-CONS would be proud of.

One INPORTANT thing to remember here, always. These assholes will stop at NOTHING. NOTHING is too icky, too stinky, too slimy, too underhanded, or too criminal not to be attempted.

[Volaris]

89. This is why I make myself wait 36 news-hours before letting myself come to a conclusion

IF this was a ratfucking, somebody is gonna be in a WHOLE WORLD of hurt (as this setup actually got an innocent person arrested).

[Autumn]

2. This little creep should be in jail for the fake accusation against Mueller. I Hope Avenatti gets

the dirt bag.

[True Blue American]

51. Avenatti

Just said,” just you wait , Jacob Wohl!”

[Autumn]

56. It was obvious yesterday they were behind it when they broke the story.

[Sugarcoated]

103. Is there proof or a link that they were behind the story

or had something to do with setting Avenatti up?

[groundloop]

87. ANYONE who claims Matthew Whitaker has a 'stellar track record' is full of shit

Surefire Intelligence
?

@SurefireIntel
Nov 9
More
We have conducted a full review of Acting Attorney-General Matthew Whitaker’s background. We have determined that he has a stellar track record and admirable moral fabric.

We look forward to seeing him succeed in his new position.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. Jacob Wohl is going to be ruined over this.

[watoos]

41. How do you ruin a dirt bag?

[lagomorph777]

54. Use him to mulch Avenatti's vegetable garden.

[John Fante]

100. Mommy is going to take away his Xbox for a week?

Jacob is already as ruined as ruined can be.

[Calista241]

7. I'm leaning on the side of the LAPD and the gov't in this case.

Avenatti got arrested by police, charged by prosecutors, and went before a judge that bonded him out. All that doesn't happen because of rumors or a whisper campaign.

Wohl tried to cast a cloud of innuendo with Mueller, and those accusations fell apart within seconds. The charges against Avenatti are apparently based on actual evidence, and Avenatti was physically there at the time.

I have trouble believing that the most incompetent criminal ever (Wohl) all of a sudden becomes a criminal mastermind with the perfect plan just a week after his first attempt fell apart spectacularly.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. +1

[phleshdef]

11. You apparently aren't aware of the "mandatory arrest" policy that is part of the VAW act.

The violence against women act encourages mandatory arrests in all reports of domestic violence and there is no need for an officer to determine if a violent act actually occurred. States who want certain grants have to adhere to that standard.

I personally know someone who was wrongfully accused of domestic violence and had to spend a night in jail and get bonded and all that. Within a week, the accuser admitted to lying about it and charges were dropped and he was even able to get it expunged from his record.

All someone needs to do is just say he did it and then an officer HAS to make an arrest.

[Lucky Luciano]

21. Yes...a result of OJ killing his ex.

A friend of mine dated a crazy woman. She was really cool to hang with, but had the most explosive temper I’ve ever seen. One day they got into a fight and she eventually started scratching him and punching him...then she took a scissors to a bunch of $3000 suits he owned...then the cops came and he was arrested.

[phleshdef]

25. Yea, I mean, I think its a good policy because it likely has saved more women.

But like most things, there is a downside and innocent people spending a night in jail just because of an accusation and nothing more is the downside.

[PCIntern]

73. I bet the sex was unbelievable. nt

[Autumn]

23. Yep. This has that little asshole all over it. I wonder if he will use the same blonde.

[John1956PA]

24. +1

In his initial statement after his release, Avenati praised the LAPD for doing its job. Apparently, the police were faced with (a) an accusation that Avenatti had inflicted abuse, and (b) evidence of injuries sustained by the accuser. In that circumstance, the police had no choice but to arrest Avenatti. I hope that this turns out to be a false accusation and that Avenatti is cleared.

[phleshdef]

29. There doesn't even have to be evidence of injury.

My friend that I was talking about in my previous post was arrested because she claimed that he threw a 16 ounce bottle of soda at her. She had no injuries at all.

[Crabby Appleton]

49. In this case there does

To be charged with felony DV in California, there has to be visible injury.

[phleshdef]

53. Yea, my friend was in WV at the time.

[Native]

110. But he wasn't charged with anything, let alone a felony.

[FBaggins]

121. That doesn't mean that he won't be

He was released on $50k bond - which means that the authorities aren't done with him. I'm not an expert on domestic violence cases, but if (as reported) police allowed her to get her things out of his apartment, then there wouldn't be a need (assuming he actually assaulted her) to keep him in custody pending an arraignment.

[Ferrets are Cool]

33. This

[littlemissmartypants]

42. Excellent point. eom

[Azathoth]

96. This is blatantly incorrect

Officers MUST have probable cause to make an arrest -- anything less is unconstitutional. If Avenatti got arrested, officers believed there was probable cause.

But this is irrelevant because mandatory arrest policies are designed to ensure an arrest when the victim refuses to press charges. It's a common scenario: police get a domestic violence call, they show up, woman comes out with a black eye and broken nose and tells the cops she fell down the stairs as the husband watches her from the doorway. However, if police come to a call and a bruised and crying woman tells them she's been hit and wants to press charges, the husband gets arrested regardless of mandatory arrest laws. Avenatti's in the latter category.

[Ilsa]

118. Thank you for explaining all of that.

It wasn't something I was very well acquainted with. It explains away any doubts I might have had, which were thin to begin with.

I hope Avanatti nails the little prick.

[flibbitygiblets]

18. So did his client, Stormy Daniels. She was set up.

Charges were dismissed.

Let's get the facts before judging.

[Calista241]

27. At the super technical level, Stormy Daniels did violate the law.

The law is on the books and has not been repealed. The fact that the law has never, ever been prosecuted, and the communications between the Police officers involved, weighed on the Prosecutors decision to dismiss the charges.

She was arrested for political reasons by the officers involved, but at the technical level, they did find a law that she violated to arrest her. She wasn't framed, nobody falsely accused her, nothing similar to what Avenatti is alleging happened to him.

[flibbitygiblets]

35. At a super technical level, they set her up

They were there waiting for her. They arrested her for doing what every other stripper does there, then charges were dropped. It was a political hit job.

We don't know what happened with Avenatti yet, but it appears any claim of DV gets you arrested.

Can we please wait for facts before Frankening this man?

[kcr]

55. Wrong

There were emails by the arresting cop that showed it was a setup.

[Calista241]

67. They knew she would be there, and they wanted to arrest her.

And they knew she’d be doing normal stripper stuff, which technically violated the law. So, they made sure they were there, they were aware of the law, they observed her violating it, and they arrested her for it.

It was a bullshit arrest, but they didn’t make up the violation out of thin air. The prosecutor wasn’t involved, and did the right thing by dropping the case.

[USALiberal]

77. Wow, really, they dropped the charges immediately because it was....

Asshole cops selectivly going after her.

[Calista241]

94. That's true. They arrested Stormy, but none of the other employees there that were doing the same

thing.

[JonLP24]

114. She didn't violate the law because it didn't pertain to her

She was just a guest performer.

"I've determined that these crimes were not committed, based on the fact that Ms. Clifford has not made regular appearances at this establishment as required under the law," Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said in a statement after reviewing the case.

Daniels had planned to plead not guilty to the three misdemeanor charges, her attorney, Michael Avenatti, tweeted.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2018/07/12/politics/stormy-daniels-arrested-in-ohio/index.html

[Farmer-Rick]

40. Avenatti got arrested by police, charged by prosecutors, and went before a judge that bonded him

All of that happens to a lot of innocent people every day.

Actually all that happens on a regular bases to people who are later found to be not guilty. More than 30% of people who get bail are found Not guilty or charges are dropped. And another 30% of those found guilty on plea bargains with bail are convictions of innocent people. So yeah, all that happens to innocent people everyday.

[Calista241]

46. My reason for stating that was to highlight the differences between Avenatti's case and the

fraudulent case against Mueller. Against Mueller, it was supposed to be about some nebulous, yet undefined encounter in the distant past. With Avenatti, he was physically present. The victim was physically there, and she had wounds and markings indicative of an assault.

Now, could a random person have gotten beaten up and walked over to Avenatti's and accused him of doing it? Sure. But to accuse Wohl of doing it, despite it being so different a crime, and while he's under investigation (and probably being monitored), is a step too far without any evidence.

[Farmer-Rick]

59. Yeah, but the accusation is just too convenient for Trump

And from reports I haven't seen any injuries, shust talk of injuries. She was supposedly wearing sunglasses to hide unidentified injuries.

It's just too convenient. Reminds me of the Gary Hart set up.

[leftynyc]

43. Are you kidding me?

The police HAD to arrest him. Meanwhile, zero evidence, and an anonymous person. And let's not forget who is taking credit for it. This was a set up. I'd bet a paycheck on it.

[lagomorph777]

57. Wohl lost his credibility instantly with the Mueller scam. There is zero reason to ever believe him

How is that not obvious?

[blueinredohio]

63. Evidently you've never been accused of anything before.

Don't think cops can't be bribed or are real Magats. Look how many people get exonerated because of false accusations. There are some good cops but money talks.

[George II]

65. When there are accusations of domestic abuse the police HAVE to arrest the accused....

....they don't have a choice even if they know that it didn't happen. No other option, regardless of how thin or sketchy the accusation is.

And the prosecutors have to proceed.

I wonder if Avenatti even knows who his "accuser" is?

[Mopar151]

101. According to TMZ's update(!)

The two Ex-Mrs. Avenatti's have been contacted. Neither one was within miles. #1 has had regular contact, because daughters. #2, who was alleged to be the "victim" in early reports, has, not, in fact seen him for months.

On a related note: The "woman scorned" scenario is a major go-to for the bump-stock gunners - It's their primary rationalisation for nixing any sort of domestic violence component to gun safety.
They gots ta have the guns, to protect the wimmins. The same wimmins who want to take their guns, so as to not be protected by the guns (owner).

[Calista241]

102. TMZ reported yesterday that the woman in the incident was not his wife.

4:50 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, the LAPD has already obtained an emergency protective order, prohibiting Avenatti from going near the alleged victim. We're told they will serve him with the legal docs before he's released from custody. We're told he will be released on $50,000 bail.

4:10 PM PT -- We were initially told by our sources the alleged victim was Avenatti's estranged wife. We now know it was not. The incident involved a different woman.

[Native]

109. Ken Olin tweeted that since OJ...

"Just want to say we should all proceed cautiously before condemning @MichaelAvenatti. In LA if someone calls 911 and claims domestic abuse it is common practice to bring the accused in. After OJ law enforcement in the city is extremely vigilant when it comes to this issue." ~Olin

And this tweet by Avenatti... "There is a lot of inaccurate reporting out there. For example, (1) I have NOT been charged with anything, let alone a felony; (2) Lisa wasn't even with me Tues; etc. Numerous other "facts" being reported are completely bogus. Why is TMZ's news "standard" the new standard?"

And Wohl is a twenty-something idiot.

[grantcart]

12. Again?

[Tarc]

13. That's nice, but, if we're gong to take sexual assault seriously, we have to be equal about it

Conservatives are the ones who bang secretaries and serve divorce papers to wives in the hospital, while finger-pointing "Thou shalt not!" at Bill Clinton in the 90s.

We have to call out our own when things like this pop up, and let the investigation run its course.

[Liberal In Texas]

16. Let's make sure it's not some RW smear campaign first. n/t

[Tarc]

48. Well, no. You investigate it seriously first.

Just like the Mueller mess that that fake Surefire tried to pull. Take it seriously initially, then if it falls a part, then root out the ratfuckery.

[phleshdef]

20. This isn't a claim of sexual assault.

[leftynyc]

44. Let me know when the woman comes forward

Then I'll take it seriously. I'm not even asking for evidence. Just a fucking name of a person willing to swear out a police report (perjury if she lies). I don't think that's asking a lot considering who is taking credit for this.

[Tarc]

50. Since when do we ask for a woman's name to be published in cases like this?

Usually cases of assault, domestic violence, etc...are treated confidentially.

[Autumn]

52. Republicans and their little Jacob Wohl are behind it. I want her name and everything about her

dating back to the Mayflower.

[leftynyc]

78. When the turds taking credit for the takedown

are the same turds who tried to set up Mueller. Take it up with them.

[LanternWaste]

76. Who is arguing that a reasoned investigation not take place?

[Skidmore]

14. Surefire is after Mueller too.

https://www.businessinsider.com/jacob-wohl-made-fake-surefire-intelligence-spreading-lies-on-mueller-2018-10

The special counsel Robert Mueller's office has asked the FBI to investigate what's said to be a plot linked to the GOP activists Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl to pay women large sums of money to lie about having been sexually harassed by Mueller.

The special counsel's office was also contacted by several reporters who were told by a woman identifying herself as Lorraine Parsons that a man working for an agency called Surefire Intelligence and Burkman offered her about $20,000 "to make accusations of sexual misconduct and workplace harassment against Robert Mueller," according to a copy of the email obtained by Business Insider.

It's unclear whether the woman's story is entirely factual. Scott Stedman, a freelance journalist who first reported on the scheme, said that after Parsons contacted him, "she wouldn't get on the phone" to discuss her claims and "lied about journalists she was working with."

The Atlantic followed up on Stedman's reporting on Tuesday, detailing another instance in which a man named Simon Frick, who said he worked for Surefire Intelligence, contacted Jennifer Taub, a Vermont Law School professor, and asked her how much money she would want in exchange for discussing her "past encounters" with Mueller. Taub told The Atlantic she had never met Mueller....more

[LakeArenal]

15. Repukes win if we fall out over this.

Why don’t we know who is making these claims since both women he’s married say he’s not an abuser? I guess president hopefuls can’t run him out with a letter.

Shades of Repuke fake noose. Around Franken, Mueller and Avenatti.

[PeeJ52]

19. All it takes is for a person to be willing to lie...

and get a few bruises on her face. Wohl has had people willing to do more. I doubt they would even release the name of the accuser in a case like this. It's really odd that Surefire would tweet about it too. That's like a confession. How would they have anything to do with a domestic violence incident unless they set it up. If they did set it up, it would be fraud and definite jail time. I can't understand why they are not in jail now... What's up with that? Can anyone create a fake company with fake people on the internet?

[triron]

22. This was a con job against Avenatti clearly.

Wake up people.

[BlueIdaho]

26. Rat Fucking.

Lee Atwater would be so proud...

[homegirl]

31. Allways remember....

how loud and long the Republicans said "innocent until proven guilty" about Beer Boy Kavanaugh.
Throw it back at them!

[Mike Nelson]

32. I thought...

… something wasn't kosher. Wife, not wife, TMZ... and the report about his wife yelling stuff outside, for others to hear...

[Hoyt]

36. It appears Vermont Democrats have cancelled an appearance by Avenatti and returned money.

"The Vermont Democratic Party announced late Wednesday that it was canceling events scheduled with Avenatti in light of his arrest."

“The Vermont Democratic Party has canceled Mr. Avenatti’s forthcoming scheduled appearances in Vermont, and will be refunding all ticket sales,” state party spokesman R. Christopher Di Mezzo said in a statement.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/11/15/michael-avenatti-arrested-suspicion-domestic-violence/?utm_term=.f29af8148432

[healthnut7]

38. Nope!

As soon as I heard it I was positive it smelled like some woman was paid to report this. Avenatti is too smart to get caught up in that, plus the fact that TMZ was reporting it and they are connected to Rupert Murdock and David Pecker. He is a problem for Trump and the R's and their go to thing is to use tactics like this!! I wish Al Franklin would have fought it.

[ScratchCat]

45. The charge is domestic violence

and not simple assault. Therefore, the woman must be someone he knows and has a "relationship" of some sorts with and cohabitates with. Otherwise, an allegation by her would be simple assault and not domestic violence. I certainly want to hear the story, but its inconceivable that some right wing idiot "paid" his girlfriend to claim he hit her as part of some campaign to discredit him. Why would his gf agree?

[Charlotte Little]

98. It is entirely possible

that Avenatti may have a new fling he's been seeing who was a set up. People will do all sorts of things for money and if she (whoever she is) was paid enough and needed the money enough, this does not seem outside the realm of possibility. That would explain the report of a woman on a phone yelling outside his place something along the lines of "how could you do this to me," etc. - which just seems way too tabloid convenient (if the reporting is correct).

It all stinks, and given that BOTH of his ex wives are coming to his defense, he has no past record of any assault or DV, and given Wohl's tweet, it wouldn't be beyond the pale that this was rat-fucking 101.

P.S. I am NOT an Avenatti fan.

[Initech]

47. Ugh, these dumbasses again?

I hope Avanatti sues these dipshits into oblivion. Fuck them.

[blueinredohio]

58. Go get em Michael! Make them pay.

[True Blue American]

66. I had a Republican friend

Post Jacob’s picture several months ago saying she really liked that clean cut guy. Listen to him all the time!

Not heard that lately.

[niyad]

62. both ex-wives defend him. . . consider the source.

[Texin]

64. If it were not for what happened with Franken, I might view this more credibly.

As it is, I was skeptical when I first heard this and now because of the right crowing about this (and it coming just a little over a week after the Blue Wave), I'm more than skeptical. I'm jaundiced by the continuous stream of lies emanating from sources that all look to be tRump bots or fake "sources".

[Grasswire2]

70. They could do this to anyone - Adam Schiff for example.

California. Mandatory arrest law.

All they need is someone willing to make an accusation, for money.

[OnDoutside]

74. +1000

[SaschaHM]

71. Yeah, I'll just wait until the LAPD and the prosecuters present their case.

I have no reason to believe anyone in this story is credible. Taking credit for an arrest that you had nothing to do with isn't a stretch for a company with a fake ceo, fake employees, and clients. At this point, anything from Avenatti's or Wohl's twitter account is just noise until a thorough investigation takes place.

[ananda]

72. I believed the wife who said he never hit her.

It smelled like a setup from the getgo!

Same as Al Franken's also smelled of
a Roger Stone setup.

[watoos]

79. We flat out don't know one way or the other.

Surefire intelligence is a bunch of ratfuckers, but that doesn't mean this is true or false.

I do know this that Republicans have a tendency to use Goebbels tactics of portraying their own atrocities onto their foes.

[Oneironaut]

86. I don't care if Avenatti is guilty or not.

A - He’s a sleazeball who is not suitable for any Democratic leadership positions in a sane world.

B - Everything about him is a media circus, just like Trump. If it’s not this, it will always be something.

Our party doesn’t need another Trump to fight Trump. We deserve better. Avenatti should fight this out on his own time, and Democrats should stop treating him with any respect.

[marble falls]

90. Bullshit. He's not after any sort of political leadership position. The circus is RW. He's not ...

any sort of Trump by any imagination.

[progressoid]

104. He's considering a run in 2020

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/29/michael-avenatti-2020-election-campaign-944994

Avenatti quietly builds 2020 machine

With the help of a group of veteran Democratic advisers, the attorney for Stormy Daniels is deep into presidential campaign planning.

By NATASHA KORECKI 10/29/2018 05:02 AM EDT


LOS ANGELES — Michael Avenatti has assembled a team of Democratic political veterans who are helping him coordinate meetings with donors, connect with national and state party officials, craft messaging and build out a digital fundraising apparatus designed to enable a 2020 presidential bid.

Avenatti’s already long prospects suffered a blow Thursday after he was quoted in Time magazine as saying the Democratic presidential nominee who will battle President Donald Trump “better be a white male” — remarks he contends were taken out of context. The same day, the Senate Judiciary Committee referred Avenatti and his client Julie Swetnick to the Justice Department for an investigation over accusations she leveled last month against Brett Kavanaugh, then a Supreme Court nominee.

But the Los Angeles-based attorney most famous for representing porn actress Stormy Daniels fought back aggressively against Time magazine and Grassley, and said Sunday he intends to move forward in his preparations with a team of 12 core political advisers, some on an informal or part-time basis.

[marble falls]

107. Who isn't considering a run?

[Doodley]

91. You should care if dirty tricks are used to discredit opposition to the worst president in history.

[Oneironaut]

97. I do, but I seriously doubt defending Avenatti is a hill Democrats want to die on.

He can and should fight for himself, distanced from the Democratic Party. I never liked him, and don’t trust him.

[Azathoth]

92. I'd love to hear how right-wing incompetents managed to stage all this

Seems to me there's a big difference between paying a woman to sign a false affidavit and staging an entire domestic abuse incident with the LAPD.

[Native]

111. I'm sure you'll hear all about it when the FBI completes their report for Mueller.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

113. Does it make a rat's ass what we think or what's on Twitter?

Let our normal system of justice work its way through this case.......

Let's all spend our mental and emotional energy concerned with the things that ail our nation and the world.....

[pdsimdars]

115. Cenk went over this last night

We don't know until it's over but the source is one of those right wing nuts who has a history of making stuff up. Also, a couple of his former wives have come forward to say nothing like this ever happened with them and they doubt it completely.

[Oppaloopa]

116. What a corrupt police department this is. They let Danny Masterson from that 70's show

With evidence of several rapes walk around free.