Stormy Daniels’s attorney, Michael Avenatti, said Thursday that he’s officially exploring a run for U.S. president in 2020.
“I’m exploring a run for the presidency of the United States,” Avenatti told The Des Moines Register, a day before he’s scheduled to speak at the Democratic Wing Ding fundraiser in Iowa.
“I wanted to come to Iowa and listen to people and learn about some issues that are facing the citizens of Iowa and do my homework.”
{mosads}The Register notes that the event Avenatti is speaking at is a historic platform for presidential hopefuls. 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) attended in 2015.
“I think there’s a huge appetite within the party for a fighter,” Avenatti added. “I think the party has yearned for a fighter — a fighter for good, if you will — for a significant period of time. And for many, I’m probably seen as that individual.”
Many have speculated that Avenatti is considering a run for the presidency based on the many public appearances he makes. He is representing Daniels, an adult-film star whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, in her lawsuits against President Trump.
Avenatti told The Hill in July that he’s given “serious thought” to the prospect of running. Avenatti said at the time that the Democratic Party is need of “a street fighter … someone that can give as good as they take.”
Avenatti has publicly mocked the president this year. Earlier this week, he mocked Trump by asking in a tweet if anyone had seen the “check from Mexico that was going to pay for the ridiculous wall?”
Avennati’s client, Daniels, is suing Trump and his then-attorney Michael Cohen over a nondisclosure agreement supposedly meant to keep her quiet about to an alleged affair with the president a decade ago. She claims that the deal is void because the president did not sign the document. Daniels is also suing him for defamation.