[V]ermont’s Democratic Party has canceled planned events in Burlington and White River Junction this weekend featuring celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti, most famous for representing adult film actress Stormy Daniels in her case against President Donald Trump.
Christopher Di Mezzo, a spokesperson for the party, said he and leaders of the party spoke immediately after the news broke about Avenatti’s arrest.
“In unison we said we need to cancel the events,” he said of the town hall meeting and other events planned for Friday and Saturday.
Avenatti, who made his name nationally speaking out against misogyny and sexual abuse, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of felony domestic violence after a report containing the allegations was filed on Tuesday, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The lawyer had been stumping around the country as he pondered a presidential run in 2020.
Di Mezzo said those who bought tickets to the Vermont events would be refunded Thursday morning. He added that he didn’t know exactly how many tickets had been sold, but that sales were strong in Burlington and slow in White River Junction.
Asked whether the situation with Avenatti would change the party’s thinking about who it invited to speak in Vermont, Di Mezzo said, “We’re really doing our best to bring in a wide array of speakers to the state.”
“We look forward to the next events we are going to plan with future speakers,” he added.
