Porn star Stormy Daniels was once his client and represented her in court. But now star lawyer Michael Avenatti himself was in the dock. The 50-year-old accused him of fraud. He was found guilty at the New York trial. The federal court saw it as proven on Friday that the 50-year-old cheated the porn actress out of $ 300,000 (277,000 francs), which she was to receive for a book about her alleged affair with ex-President Donald Trump.
Excerpt from the podcast: Here Stormy Daniels talks about sex with Trump(00:34)
Avenatti, who represented himself in the process, denied allegations of fraud and aggravated identity theft. He argued he was entitled to the payments.
The lawyer tricked literary agents into transferring $300,000 out of a total advance of $800,000 on Daniel’s book into a bank account he controlled without their knowledge, according to prosecutors. He spent the money on plane tickets, restaurant visits and leasing a Ferrari, among other things. He later paid back around half of the sum.
Allegedly having sex with Donald Trump
Fraud and aggravated identity theft carry up to 22 years in prison, but Avenatti is likely to receive a much lighter sentence.
Avenatti became known beyond the borders of the USA as the lawyer for the porn actress Stormy Daniels. The actress, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, claims to have had sex with the married Trump in 2006. Shortly before the 2016 presidential election, she received $130,000 as part of a non-disclosure agreement.
She later wanted to have this agreement declared void by a court, Avenatti represented her in the case. The legal dispute with the president has meanwhile degenerated into a public mud fight.
Lawyer tried to blackmail Nike
The media-savvy lawyer with the striking bald head became a real star as a Trump critic, and in the meantime he was even said to have ambitions for a presidential candidacy. He also served as a victims’ attorney in the abuse allegations against R&B singer R. Kelly.
Avenatti was sentenced to two and a half years in prison last summer for attempted blackmail against the sporting goods manufacturer Nike. In another fraud case, he also has to answer in court in California. (AFP/jmh)