Trump smirks at mention of Stormy Daniels lawyer Michael Avenatti’s domestic violence arrest

President Donald Trump smirked at a question on Tuesday about Michael Avenatti’s domestic violence arrest as he left the White House for his Thanksgiving break in Paklm Beach, Florida.

Avenatti, the attorney who represents pornographic actress Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against the president, was booked for felony domestic assault after he allegedly struck girlfriend Mareli Miniutti last Tuesday.

He has been a consistent Trump antagonist, and is leveraging his notoriety to position himself to run against the president in 2020.

Trump told DailyMail.com before he boarded Marine One: ‘I wish him the best of luck.’

Arms wide and grinning broadly, he said it again with more gusto: ‘I wish him the best of luck!’

President Donald Trump seemed to mock lawyer Michael Avenatti on Tuesday as he left the White House, snarking that he wishes him ‘the best of luck’ fighting a domestic violence charge

Avenatti was arrested last Tuesday; his live-in girlfriend claims he dragged her across a floor and called her 'an 'ungrateful f***ing b***h'

Avenatti was arrested last Tuesday; his live-in girlfriend claims he dragged her across a floor and called her ‘an ‘ungrateful f***ing b***h’

Trump resisted the temptation to gloat but snarked a bit at Avenatti's expense

Trump resisted the temptation to gloat but snarked a bit at Avenatti’s expense

Miniutti submitted photos to a California court, revealing injuries she claim Avenatti caused by hitting her in the face with pillows and dragging her across the floor of his apartment in her underwear. She also claims he called her an ‘ungrateful f***ing b***h.’ 

The Estonian actress has been dating the lawyer since last October. In documents submitted Monday and first obtained by The Blast, she claims he assaulted her after an argument about money turned physical.

The altercation left her with scratches on the side of her leg, she said, and ‘red marks’ on her left side.

She also claims the November 13 incident was not the first time Avenatti, 47, has been violent with her.

According to the three-page declaration, the two had been arguing in the master bedroom that evening when Avenatti began to ‘berate’ her.

In this September 2018 photo, attorney Michael Avenatti, right, poses with Mareli Miniutti for a photo at a party in New York

In this September 2018 photo, attorney Michael Avenatti, right, poses with Mareli Miniutti for a photo at a party in New York

Michael Avenatti's accuser was revealed as Mareli Miniutti, an Estonian actress in her 20s who has appeared in the likes of Ocean's 8 and Chuck 

Michael Avenatti’s accuser was revealed as Mareli Miniutti, an Estonian actress in her 20s who has appeared in the likes of Ocean’s 8 and Chuck 

Miniutti has submitted photos to the court showing her injuries after Michael Avenatti allegedly hit her in the face with pillows and dragged her across the floor

Miniutti has submitted photos to the court showing her injuries after Michael Avenatti allegedly hit her in the face with pillows and dragged her across the floor

Miniutti says the altercation left her with scratches on the side of her leg and 'red marks' on her left side

Miniutti says the altercation left her with scratches on the side of her leg and ‘red marks’ on her left side

Miniutti claims Avenatti yanked her by the wrist to pull her out of bed before dragging her across the floor 

Miniutti claims Avenatti yanked her by the wrist to pull her out of bed before dragging her across the floor 

Miniutti says she then exited the room and went to the guest room to sleep alone, but he eventually followed her, ‘calling her names’ before forcefully hitting her in the face with pillows.

She claims Avenatti said, ‘Do not disrespect me. You don’t get to sleep in my house tonight,’ before reaching for her wrist in an attempt to pull her out of bed. 

Avenatti, however, slipped and lost his grip and she used the opportunity to send texts to a friend, according the documents. 

‘After a few moments, [he] yelled at me, and grabbed the phone out of my hand and screamed, “this is my phone!” and put it in his pocket.’

Miniutti says Avenatti remained close to her ‘at all times’ and she became ‘afraid’ for her safety and screamed for help towards a window.   

Avenatti is mainly known for representing Stephanie Clifford, who makes pornographic movies under the name Stormy Daniels; she claims to have bedded President Trump in 2006 and is suing him to invalidate a 2016 nondisclosure agreement for which she was paid $130,000

Avenatti is mainly known for representing Stephanie Clifford, who makes pornographic movies under the name Stormy Daniels; she claims to have bedded President Trump in 2006 and is suing him to invalidate a 2016 nondisclosure agreement for which she was paid $130,000

That’s when Avenatti allegedly tried to pull her out of bed again, this time succeeding and dragging her on the floor of the apartment and out to the hallway while she was only in her underwear and a t-shirt. 

Miniutti says she tried to get help by ringing a neighbor’s doorbell but Avenatti allegedly pulled back her inside and blocked the door with his body to prevent her from leaving.

‘I screamed and asked [him] to return my phone. [He] refused to return my phone,’ the declaration states. 

She then ran back to the guest bedroom to put pants on, but he quickly followed, giving her no time to put on shoes, she claims. 

Miniutti eventually managed to bypass Avenatti, exited the apartment, and made a run for the elevator as he chased after her. 

Mareli Miniutti's apparently estranged husband Michael Miniutti told DailyMail.com 'No man has a right to raise a hand to a woman. Period'

Mareli Miniutti’s apparently estranged husband Michael Miniutti (right) told DailyMail.com ‘No man has a right to raise a hand to a woman. Period.’ Avenatti called the claims ‘bogus’ after her identity was revealed Monday

A family confirmed to Dailymail.com that Michael Miniutti was married to Mareli but he was unclear on their current status

A family confirmed to Dailymail.com that Michael Miniutti was married to Mareli but he was unclear on their current status

While the two were in the elevator, he allegedly began to beg, ‘Don’t do this Mareli, don’t involve them.’

Avenatti finally returned her phone when she approached front desk personnel, who called security.   

Miniutti, who had been living with Avenatti since January, also alleges that he assaulted her during another incident in February this year.

‘At that time, I was living with [Avenatti] in a different apartment in the same building. [He] had been drinking, and he became angry at me. [He] pushed me out of the apartment into the public hallway, where I hit my head against a door across the hallway,’ she claims. 

Avenatti, she says, then threw her shoes at her, hitting her in the leg. 

She claims Avenatti has ‘a history of being very verbally abusive and financially controlling’ towards her and has ‘vehemently opposed’ her wish to earn a living outside of Hollywood.

‘[He] has made promises to “take care of me” financially and sometimes fails to follow through,’ she says in papers.  

Miniutti filed for a domestic violence restraining order in Los Angeles on Monday and a hearing has been set for December 10.

A judge granted the temporary restraining order against Avenatti based on Miniutti’s allegations in the filing.

Michael Miniutti, her husband, told DailyMail.com: ‘No man has a right to raise a hand to a woman. Period.’ 

Asked if he was still married to the actress, he responded, ‘No comment.’

Laywer Michael Avenatti claims he will be 'fully exonerated' by a now-deleted Instagram post (above) his accuser, Mareli Miniutti  shared in the hours after he allegedly assaulted her

Laywer Michael Avenatti claims he will be ‘fully exonerated’ by a now-deleted Instagram post (above) his accuser, Mareli Miniutti shared in the hours after he allegedly assaulted her

'There is nothing more powerful than video evidence. NOTHING! I will be fully exonerated,' Avenatti tweeted in the early hours of Tuesday

‘There is nothing more powerful than video evidence. NOTHING! I will be fully exonerated,’ Avenatti tweeted in the early hours of Tuesday

He later added that posts that could quash her claims had been shared on her Instagram account that was made private after her restraining order filed at Santa Monica Court House 

He later added that posts that could quash her claims had been shared on her Instagram account that was made private after her restraining order filed at Santa Monica Court House 

Avenatti again called the claims 'bogus' after her identity was revealed Monday

Avenatti again called the claims ‘bogus’ after her identity was revealed Monday

Avenatti hit back against the allegations on Monday, denying he struck her near his ritzy Los Angeles apartment and claimed he would be vindicated by video evidence.

He claims his accuser had posted something on Instagram in the hours after the incident that showed her claims were ‘bogus.’

Avenatti appears to be referring to videos posted on Minuitti’s Instagram account, shared in the hours after Avenatti was taken into custody last Wednesday, according to Hill Reporter.

They show a carefree Miniutti laughing and apparently bruise-free – although she may have concealed her injuries with make-up. 

‘There is nothing more powerful than video evidence. NOTHING! I will be fully exonerated,’ Avenatti tweeted in the early hours of Tuesday. 

He tweeted again hours later, revealing he has authorized the release of security camera footage relevant to the incident saying, ‘I want the truth to be known – all of it.’

Blink and you will miss: Mareli Miniutti (center) is seen in her brief appearance in Ocean's 8 - as star Anne Hathaway walks behind 

Blink and you will miss: Mareli Miniutti (center) is seen in her brief appearance in Ocean’s 8 – as star Anne Hathaway walks behind 

 

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