Charges Against Stormy Daniels Dismissed After Strip Club Arrest

(CN) – Stormy Daniels, the porn actress suing to nullify a confidentiality agreement with President Donald Trump, was arrested Wednesday night at an Ohio strip club but has been released after a judge dismissed the charges, her attorney said Thursday.

Attorney Michael Avenatti took to Twitter on Thursday morning with the news.

“I am pleased to report that the charges against my client @stormydaniels have been dismissed in their entirety (below motion was just granted),” he said. “I want to thank Joe Gibson & his colleagues at the prosecutors ofc for their professionalism starting with our first call early this am.”

On Wednesday night, Avenatti wrote on Twitter that Daniels had been arrested at a strip club for allowing a patron to touch her in a “nonsexual manner” during her performance, which Avenatti said she has performed “across the nation at nearly a hundred strip clubs.”

Daniels, born Stephanie Clifford, was scheduled to perform Wednesday and Thursday at Sirens Gentlemen’s Club in Columbus, according to the club's website.

The establishment had been promoting Daniels’ performance as far back as June 7, according to their social media sites. Daniels retweeted one of their promotions that said “#TeamStormy” on June 20.

The state law known as the Community Defense Act prohibits physical touching of a nude performer.

“Are you kidding me? They are devoting law enforcement resources to sting operations for this? There has to be higher priorities!!! #SetUp #Basta,” Avenatti said on Twitter.

He called the arrest a setup and said the incident was “politically motivated” though he did not elaborate further.

According to Columbus Police report, Daniels was arrested along with two other dancers in an undercover sting operation. An investigation looking into “allegations” of human trafficking and prostitution began last fall and has resulted in “numerous” arrests, the report said.

The trio were arrested when they “illegally” touched three different undercover vice detectives, according to the statement by Columbus Police.

Miranda Panda of Marion, Ohio, and Brittany Walters of Pickerington, Ohio, were charged with illegal sexually oriented activity in a sexually oriented business.

Daniels said on Twitter she was “saddened” to hear the charges against the other two dancers haven’t been dropped. She said all tips from Thursday’s performance will go toward their legal fees.

In a statement, Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs said the officers believed there was probable cause that dancers’ contact with undercover detectives violated the law but "one element of the law was missed in error and charges were subsequently dismissed."

Jacobs said “a mistake was made” and that he accepted “full responsibility" for Daniels' arrest.

The statement said that the presence of vice detectives at Sirens was reasonable but that their "motivations" would be investigated "to ensure that our core values and duty to serve our community."

Avenatti responded on Twitter by saying that while he appreciates Chief Jacobs’ statement, a “full and open” investigation into the officers’ conduct and “an examination of their social media accounts” must now take place.

He posted photos from a Columbus Police officer’s social media account that he said included “pro-Trump” posts.

“In the event it is discovered that my client was targeted & arrested because of our opposition to Mr. Trump, the resulting lawsuit & action will be swift and devastating,” Avenatti said. “That is not a threat. It is a promise.”

Daniels initially tweeted that she will perform tonight at Sirens, the same venue where she was arrested.

“I'll be going onstage tonight at Sirens in Columbus to perform for my fans and register voters as planned,” she said. “Can't stop the storm. #stormthevote #TEAMSTORMY #BASTA #fearless.”

Avenatti said on Twitter that Daniels “refuses to be intimidated” and will continue her nationwide tour.

“She will return to the scene of the ‘no crime’ tonight in Columbus, Ohio as scheduled,” he said. “She never ceases to impress!”

As the day progressed, however, someone had a change of heart. Avenatti tweeted Thursday afternoon that Daniels wouldn't be performing at Sirens after all and was looking for another venue.

Daniels is suing Trump, his former personal attorney Michael Cohen and shell company Essential Consultants over a nondisclosure agreement that she says is invalid since Trump never signed it.

She claims Cohen paid her $130,000 to keep quiet during the 2016 presidential election about a one-night stand she allegedly had with Trump in 2006.

Cohen is under federal investigation in New York regarding the payment he made to Daniels in exchange for her silence on the alleged affair with the president.

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