Avenatti denies domestic violence charge

Michael Avenatti, the lawyer who has represented adult film actress Stormy Daniels in her case against US President Donald Trump, has vehemently denied the domestic violence charge that led to his arrest Wednesday.

"I have never struck a woman, I never will strike a woman, I have been an advocate for women's rights my entire career and I am going to continue to be an advocate," Avenatti told reporters after leaving the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Pacific division.

"I am not going to be intimidated from stopping what I am doing," he added.

Earlier in the day, the lawyer had been booked on a felony domestic violence charge after being arrested by LAPD detectives. His bail had been set at 50,000, police confirmed. 

"I am a father to two beautiful, smart daughters, I would never disrespect them by touching a woman inappropriately or striking a woman," Avenatti told reporters.

The lawyer added that he is confident that he will be "fully exonerated."

Avenatti has been hounding the president for nearly a year over apparent hush money paid to Daniels to keep quiet about an affair she allegedly had with him years before he became president. Trump denies the affair.

The lawyer is seen as having been in the early stages of potentially launching a campaign for the presidency in 2020 on a Democratic ticket. 

Following the first reports of his arrest, the Democratic Party of Vermont said that they were cancelling a planned appearance by the 47-year-old.