Michael Avenatti, the TV resistance lawyer who became famous after representing porn actress Stormy Daniels, said late Tuesday that the midterm results confirmed his views that it will take a fighter to beat President Trump in 2020 — ignoring his own intervention in the recent Supreme Court confirmation fight that may have contributed to Democrat Senate losses.
“The results confirm what I have been advocating. Those Dems that preach ‘puppies and daisies’ are losing and the fighters are winning. There is only one path to success in 2020, and it’s not turning the other cheek. When they go low, we hit harder,” Avenatti tweeted.
Avenatti — who is flirting with a 2020 presidential bid — also bashed Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), who Democrats see as a potential contender, saying, “He refused to go on the attack. He is not a fighter.”
He made no mention of his notorious role in the Senate confirmation for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, or the effect it may have had on Democrats losing the Senate.
Avenatti had intervened in the Kavanaugh confirmation battle by releasing a “sworn affidavit” from a woman named Julie Swetnick, whose outlandish claims of Kavanaugh spiking punch and lining up to gang rape women was blamed for damaging the credibility of Kavanaugh’s accusers.
Four Democrat senators in red states who voted against confirming Kavanaugh all lost their seats, with the exception of Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), who eked out a win. The one Democrat who voted to confirm Kavanaugh, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), won by more than three points.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) touted the “Kavanaugh effect” in helping Republicans grow their majority in the Senate, telling reporters that the battle to confirm him gave Republicans a much-needed “adrenaline shot.”
Avenatti tweeted again on Wednesday morning, “No career politician is going to beat Trump in 2020. Especially one that is not aggressive and can’t go toe to toe with him. You can’t beat Trump by preaching puppies & daisies. You have to inspire but you MUST be aggressive and confront Trump on his lies and corruption.”
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) last month referred Julie Swetnick and Avenatti to the Justice Department to be criminally investigated for making possible false statements.