“Michael Avenatti’s attorneys want him moved out of his jail cell — which may have been used by El Chapo — because it’s freezing and the conditions are hampering his defense,” CNN reports.
Michael Avenatti Arrested by Feds at California Hearing
Michael Avenatti was led out of the State Bar Court in Los Angeles by federal agents on Tuesday evening, the Daily Beast reports.
“The arrest occurred outside the disciplinary hearing in which the State Bar of California has accused the hard-charging, tough-talking attorney of using a doctored document to scam a client out of nearly $840,000, funneling money from a lawsuit settlement fund to his own personal use.”
Avenatti Says He May Still Run for President
The firebrand attorney Michael Avenatti told CNBC that he is again considering a run for the Democratic nomination for president after he declared last year he wouldn’t take part in the contest.
Said Avenatti: “I don’t think I need to make a final decision for a number of months. I have the name ID and everyone knows I’m one of the few effective fighters that the Dems have.”
Still, Avenatti said he has a “number of things to deal with” before deciding whether he will jump into the race. He was arrested in New York in March for an alleged $20 million extortion scheme against Nike. A month later, federal prosecutors in California indicted Avenatti on three dozen counts including stealing money from clients and lying to regulators about his income.
Avenatti Says Trump Is Behind His Indictment
Michael Avenatti told the Washington Examiner that his recent indictment is a product of political revenge by the Trump administration, alleging one Republican close to the president said it “had Trump’s fingerprints all over it.”
Avenatti Indicted for Defrauding Stormy Daniels
“Attorney Michael Avenatti has been charged with ripping off porn star Stormy Daniels, the client who made him famous,” the AP reports.
“Federal prosecutors say Avenatti took money Daniels was supposed to get from a book deal.”
Meanwhile, CNBC reports Avenatti was also indicted “on charges of trying to extort athletic shoe giant Nike out of tens of millions of dollars by threatening to go public with embarassing information about the company.”
Avenatti Indicted on 36 Criminal Charges
“Attorney Michael Avenatti has been charged in a 36-count federal indictment alleging he stole millions of dollars from clients, did not pay his taxes, committed bank fraud and lied in bankruptcy proceedings,”, according to the Associated Press.
“The new charges do not include the New York extortion case alleging Avenatti demanded millions to stay quiet about claims he planned to reveal about Nike paying high school players.”
Los Angeles Times: “Avenatti stole millions of dollars from five clients and used a tangled web of shell companies and bank accounts to cover up the theft, the Santa Ana grand jury alleged in an indictment that prosecutors will make public Thursday.”
Avenatti Drops Presidential Bid
Michael Avenatti announced that, at his family’s urging, he will not run for president in 2020.
Avenatti Crashes and Burns
“Michael Avenatti’s cable TV bookings have dwindled. He was uninvited from one prominent Democratic event and skipped out on another. Now his highest-profile client is bringing new allegations against him,” Politico reports.
“In just a matter of weeks, Avenatti’s fortunes have taken a nosedive, rapidly downshifting from 2020 presidential prospect to political pariah.”
Daniels Says Avenatti Sued Trump Against Her Wishes
Stormy Daniels told the Daily Beast that Michael Avenatti sued Donald Trump for defaming her against her wishes.
“Avenatti also started a new fundraising site to raise money for her legal defense fund without telling her, Daniels said. She said she is not sure whether or not she will keep Avenatti on as her lawyer.”
Woman Claims Avenatti Dragged Her Across the Floor
“An actress who says she had a relationship with Michael Avenatti alleges he dragged her by the arm across the floor of his Los Angeles apartment after an argument,” the AP reports.
Avenatti says the allegations are “completely false” and “fabricated.” He says he’ll be fully vindicated after a thorough investigation.
Avenatti Arrested for Domestic Violence
Michael Avenatti, who became famous for representing Stormy Daniels in her battle with President Trump, has been arrested for felony domestic violence, law enforcement sources tell TMZ.
Avenatti Quietly Builds 2020 Team
“Michael Avenatti has assembled a team of Democratic political veterans who are helping him coordinate meetings with donors, connect with national and state party officials, craft messaging and build out a digital fundraising apparatus designed to enable a 2020 presidential bid,” Politico reports.
Said Avenatti: “I think a lot of people underestimate me. I’m battle-tested, unlike some of the other likely candidates. They’re not tough enough … If you put them in a kinder, gentler time; or against someone else? They’d be great. They’d be better than me. But they don’t have a chance in hell against Donald Trump.”
Avenatti Says Democrats Need a White Male In 2020
Michael Avenatti told Time that the 2020 Democratic Party nominee for president needs to be a white man.
Said Avenatti: “I think it better be a white male. When you have a white male making the arguments, they carry more weight. Should they carry more weight? Absolutely not. But do they? Yes.”
Avenatti Hit with $4.85 Million Judgement
“Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels, was hit with a personal judgment of $4.85 million Monday for his failure to pay a debt to a former colleague at his longtime Newport Beach firm,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
“Less than an hour after his defeat in the Los Angeles lawsuit, the firm, Eagan Avenatti, suffered another setback at a trial in Santa Ana: The Irvine Company won a court order evicting Avenatti and his staff from their suite at Fashion Island mall for failing to pay the last four months of rent.”
Avenatti Tries to Raise Money Off Beto O’Rourke
Daily Beast: “Michael Avenatti on Thursday tweeted a link to Democratic donation platform ActBlue that appeared to be an O’Rourke donation page, but the fine print on the page noted that, by default, half of the money donated would go to Avenatti’s Fight PAC.”
Avenatti Taunts Donald Trump Jr.
After Donald Trump Jr. joked over Twitter that Michael Avenatti could pick former Rep. Anthony Weiner as his running mate, Avenatti responded that the president’s son will soon “be indicted” on federal charges.
Said Avenatti: “If I were you, the last thing I would be doing is referencing other people getting out of federal prison. Because after you are indicted, you will likely be passing them on your way in. BTW, they don’t have silver spoons or gold toilets in the joint. Buckle up, Buttercup.”
Team Kavanaugh Thanks Michael Avenatti
“Michael Avenatti was a hot conversation topic Saturday night at Trump Hotel, where administration officials gathered for happy hour with advisers from the outside groups who poured money and energy into confirming Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court,” according to Jonathan Swan.
“At one point in the evening, a senior person at one of the outside groups joked that Avenatti might have been on the Republican payroll.”
Said one source: “You guys put Avenatti up to it, right?”
Democrats Say Avenatti Undercut Their Case
“Senate Democrats believed they had Brett Kavanaugh on the ropes… Then came Michael Avenatti,” CNN reports.
“The combative lawyer… revealed a stunning new allegation: A woman, Julie Swetnick, said she had witnessed the Supreme Court nominee attending more than 10 house parties… She also alleged that at some parties, boys lined up by a bedroom to ‘gang-rape’ incapacitated girls and claimed those in the lineup included Kavanaugh and Judge.”
“But the eye-popping nature of those claims suddenly gave Republicans an opportunity to shift the narrative away from Ford’s allegations and make a broader case that the growing accusations of sexual misconduct amounted to an orchestrated Democratic smear campaign, something Sen. Susan Collins, the swing GOP vote, cited herself when announcing she’d be the decisive vote to support Kavanaugh’s confirmation.”
