Avenatti: My chances of beating Trump have only gone up

Michael Avenatti says his chances of beating Trump in 2020 have only gone up.

Avenatti made the comments in the wake of his arrest for domestic violence and a public clash with his most high-profile client, adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Actress Mareli Minutti has accused the attorney of domestic violence and filed a restraining order against him. The Los Angeles DA office isn’t pursuing felony domestic violence charges, but is still reviewing the accusations.

Stormy Daniels says Avenatti sued President Trump for defamation on her behalf without her permission, and wouldn’t tell her how much he raised for her legal defense via a crowdfunding effort he was behind.

Speaking to Politico, he said, “I think the field is shaping up to be even more advantageous for someone like me, not less. I think my chances have only gone up, not gone down.”

Avenatti clarified his stance in a statement to The Hill, saying, "If the Democrats think they can beat Donald Trump without taking him on directly and aggressively, they are kidding themselves. Unfortunately, many of the likely candidates are simply not tough enough or battle tested enough to beat him. Inspiration is great but it’s not going to get the job done against a bully like Trump.”

Some Democrats have distanced themselves from Avenatti in the wake of the domestic violence allegations, including the Vermont Democratic Party, which cancelled multiple events set to feature Avenatti.

He vehemently denies all accusations, and maintains he will be vindicated.

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