Stormy Daniels arrested at strip club in Ohio; lawyer Avenatti calls arrest ‘politically motivated’

Update 7/13/18, 4:18 p.m.: Charges against Stormy Daniels — AKA Stephanie Clifford — have been dropped. Read more here.

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Police arrested adult film actress Stormy Daniels — real name Stephanie Clifford — on Wednesday night at a Columbus, Ohio, strip club.

According to her lawyer, Clifford purportedly allowed one or more strip club patrons to touch her onstage, which, if accurate, would violate state law.

Charging documents, however, say that Clifford reportedly groped an undercover cop while at the club on Wednesday.

What is Clifford's side of the story?

According to Clifford's attorney, Michael Avenatti, Clifford was reportedly arrested for permitting a strip club patron to touch her while onstage.

Early Thursday morning, Avenatti, tweeted, "Just rcvd word that my client @StormyDaniels was arrested in Columbus Ohio whole performing the same act she has performed across the nation at nearly a hundred strip clubs. This was a setup & politically motivated. It reeks of desperation. We will fight all bogus charges."

"She was arrested for allegedly allowing a customer to touch her while on stage in a non sexual manner! Are you kidding me? They are devoting law enforcement resources to sting operations for this? There has to be higher priorities!!!" he continued.

"We expect her to be released on bail shortly. We also expect that she will be charged with a misdemeanor for allowing 'touching,'" Avenatti later added. "We will vehemently contest all charges."

Later Thursday morning, Avenatti noted, "My client @StormyDaniels will issue a plea of 'Not Guilty' to the three misdemeanor charges."

Just rcvd word that my client @StormyDaniels was arrested in Columbus Ohio whole performing the same act she has performed across the nation at nearly a hundred strip clubs. This was a setup & politically motivated. It reeks of desperation. We will fight all bogus charges. #Basta

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018

She was arrested for allegedly allowing a customer to touch her while on stage in a non sexual manner! Are you kidding me? They are devoting law enforcement resources to sting operations for this? There has to be higher priorities!!! #SetUp #Basta

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018

We expect her to be released on bail shortly. We also expect that she will be charged with a misdemeanor for allowing “touching.” We will vehemently contest all charges. #Basta

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018

My client @StormyDaniels will issue a plea of “Not Guilty” to the three misdemeanor charges.

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018

Clifford was performing at Sirens in Columbus and, according to CNBC's Everett Rosenfeld, has been charged with misdemeanor sex offenses. A court date has been set for Friday.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has released the mug shot of Stephanie Clifford - Stormy Daniels – following her arrest last night in Columbus. pic.twitter.com/RixfGyxsYK

— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) July 12, 2018

CNBC's Rosenfeld also added, "Avenatti told NBC News that he was of the understanding that there were multiple undercover vice officers in the club during Daniels' show. After the customer touched her, according to the attorney, those officers got up and arrested the performer on the spot."

What do legal documents allege?

According to a copy of Clifford's charging documents, however — obtained by WBNS-TV — Clifford stands accused of "touching a 'specified anatomical area' of female and male officers posing as patrons, and also touched them with her own 'specified anatomical area.'"

The charging docs obtained by WBNS @10TV allege Stormy Daniels violated Ohio law by touching a "specified anatomical area" of female and male officers posing as patrons, and also touched them with her own "specified anatomical area." pic.twitter.com/kykV6MlQfG

— Steven Portnoy (@stevenportnoy) July 12, 2018

What else?

Clifford has alleged that she had sex with President Donald Trump in 2006 and has sued the president and his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for defamation, and is looking to nullify a nondisclosure agreement signed days prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Trump has denied all sexual interaction with Clifford.