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Michael Avenatti, the disgraced attorney, was convicted on Friday of stealing from a client who helped him flirt with stardom.
He was found guilty of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after stealing $300,000 from Stormy Daniels, the pornographic performer who engaged Avenatti to defend her in a lawsuit against former President Trump.
Avenatti had pleaded not guilty and argued that the evidence against him was insufficient, but the jury sided with federal prosecutors who claimed Avenatti convinced Daniels that her book publisher was behind on payments owed to her for her memoir, “Full Disclosure,” when he already had the money in an account he controlled. On May 24, he will be sentenced.
“The defendant was a lawyer who cheated his own client.” “She felt he was her advocate, but he deceived her,” said Assistant United States Attorney Robert Sobelman. “Falsehoods he told to cover it all up, lies he lied to get away with it.”
The jury deliberated for three days and indicated twice that it was having difficulty before reaching a decision. The jury sent a letter a few hours after deliberations began, saying, “We are unable to reach an agreement on Count One.” “What are we going to do next?”
A further notation stated that one juror “refuses to look at facts and is operating on a gut sense.” In both cases, the court directed that the jury continue deliberations.
Avenatti, who defended himself throughout the trial, said he was entitled to a percentage of Daniels’ book advance despite the fact that she only paid him a $100 retainer.
“Ms. Daniels was going to confront the president of the United States, the most powerful person on the globe.” And the evidence indicates that I pledged to fight for Ms. Daniels. “However, I did not commit to do it for free,” Avenatti stated.
During the trial, Avenatti attempted to undermine his former client’s credibility by cross-examining her on her belief in the paranormal.
“She claims to be able to communicate with the dead.” “She claims to have a talking, piano-playing doll that calls her mama,” Avenatti added. “Does this sound like someone the government should call as a key witness in a criminal case?”
