Rush Limbaugh was among the many pundits who has weighed in on the Michael Avenatti arrest, but, as usual, the inimitable talk radio host had his own unique angle custom-made for the entertainment of his audience. Avenatti, said Limbaugh, blew his initial response to the accusations because he failed to learn a key lesson from Ted Kennedy.
After being arrested Wednesday for suspected felony domestic violence, Avenatti emerged from the jailhouse after making his $50,000 bail and gave reporters a “very brief and very succinct” statement declaring his innocence.
“First of all, I want to thank the hardworking men and women of the LAPD for their professionalism and their work today,” Avenatti said. “They had no option in light of the allegations. Secondly, 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’m going to continue to be an advocate. I am not going to be intimidated from stopping what I am doing. I am a father to two beautiful, smart daughters. I would never disrespect them by touching a woman inappropriately or striking a woman. I am looking forward to a full investigation at which point I am confident that I will be fully exonerated. I also want to thank everyone for their support that has reached out. You know my character, you know me as a man, and I appreciate it. Thank you.”
Limbaugh was very disappointed with Avenatti’s performance.
“I think Michael Avenatti blew it,” said Limbaugh, in a short segment dedicated to the “creepy porn lawyer” story. “I don’t think he learned the lesson from Ted Kennedy.”
“Avenatti, when making his first public comment and his first public appearance after being charged with domestic violence, he should have come out with bandages on his head,” Rush explained. “You know, those new Band-Aid strips you put over the eyebrow, they put ’em on you in the hospital. Maybe had his arm in a sling, bruise up his face with some makeup and stuff. Should have gone that whole route.”
Limbaugh gave a little more back story on Kennedy’s infamous neck brace: “I mean, Ted Kennedy came out after he had killed Mary Jo Kopechne at Chappaquiddick, the first sign of Ted Kennedy he was wearing a neck brace. He made himself out to be a victim. He had struggled valiantly to save that car, save Mary Jo. In the process he had done great, great damage to his senatorial neck and spine.”
But Avenatti “just blew a big opportunity here,” said Rush. “I mean, if you’re gonna play the victim, play the victim. You don’t half bake it. You gotta commit to your story. And if the woman turned on you and struck you, should have had some evidence of that out there. I warned people about this guy.”
Limbaugh’s reference to Avenatti being “struck” is a nod to TMZ’s initial report on the incident, in which the outlet said its law enforcement sources said Avenatti was shouting, “She hit me first!” as he attempted to get into an apartment building after the woman was escorted in by security:
We’re told Wednesday afternoon the woman was on the sidewalk on her cellphone with sunglasses covering her eyes, sobbing and screaming on the phone, “I can’t believe you did this to me. I’m going to get a restraining order against you.”
We’re told security brought her inside the building, took her upstairs and Michael showed up 5 minutes later and ran into the building. He screamed repeatedly, “She hit me first.” We’re told he angrily added, “This is bulls***, this is f***ing bulls***.” We’re told he tried getting into the elevator but security denied him access.
Avenatti has since suggested that he’s being framed by “right-wing Twitter troll” Jacob Wohl and his group Surefire Intelligence. “First Mueller and now me. When we are fully exonerated I am coming for you Jacob Wohl aka Surefire,” he tweeted Thursday.
Meanwhile, Avenatti’s most famous client, porn star Stormy Daniels, has responded to the allegations by saying that if they prove true, she’ll be “seeking new representation.”
“These are serious and obviously very troubling allegations, but right now that is all they are: allegations,” said Daniels in a statement reported by New York Magazine’s Olivia Nuzzi. “We should all reserve judgment until the investigation—an investigation Michael has said he welcomes—is complete, and that’s what I’m going to do. But of course I do not condone violence against women and if these allegations prove true I will be seeking new representation.”
UPDATE: Prosecutors Decline Felony Charges For Avenatti, May Face Misdemeanor Charges
Transcript via RushLimbaugh.com
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