Stormy Daniels has been arrested at an Ohio strip club for letting patrons touch her while she was on stage, in violation of state law, her lawyer has said.
Michael Avenatti said in a tweet the charge was politically motivated. He added: It reeks of desperation. We will fight all bogus charges.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had sex with Donald Trump in 2006, when he was married. Trump has denied any sexual relationship with Daniels.
Daniels was performing at Sirens, a strip club in Columbus, when she was touched in a non-sexual way, Avenatti, told the Associated Press. An Ohio law known as the Community Defense Act prohibits anyone who isn’t a family member to touch a nude or semi-nude dancer.
Daniels was in police custody early on Thursday and was expected to face a misdemeanor charge, Avenatti said.
This was a complete set up, he said. It’s absurd that law enforcement resources are being spent to conduct a sting operation related to customers touching performers in a strip club in a non-sexual manner.
A Columbus police spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
A person who answered the phone at the strip club declined to comment.