Disgraced former Stormy Daniels lawyer says he would now testify for Trump
Source: UK Independent
11 hours ago
Michael Avenatti, the disgraced former lawyer for Stormy Daniels, has said that he is in touch with Donald Trumps legal defence team and is willing to testify on behalf of the former president at his hush money trial.
The defence has contacted me, Avenatti told The New York Post from prison. Id be more than happy to testify, I dont know that I will be called to testify, but I have been in touch with Trumps defence for the better part of a year.
Avenatti is currently serving a 19-year sentence for extortion, tax evasion, fraud, embezzlement and other federal crimes at Terminal Island, a minimum-security federal prison in Los Angeles.
He did not provide any details about his conversations with the Trump defence team. The Stormy Daniels scandal catapulted Avenatti into the public eye in 2018 when he represented the adult film star, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-michael-avenatti-stormy-daniels-b2532047.html
no_hypocrisy
(46,244 posts)prosecution's case. He legally represented Stormy Daniels and he's barred from testifying about anything that is privileged information during that time.
JohnSJ
(92,475 posts)negative attributes about his former client. He doesnt care, he is already in prison for fraud, embezzlement, and stealing, not just from Daniels, but Nike, etc.
He has nothing to lose, and hopes Trump wins and gives him a pardon.
IthinkThereforeIAM
(3,078 posts)... he is in prison and will do just about anything for a Happy Meal!
Sneederbunk
(14,315 posts)usaf-vet
(6,224 posts)Ray Bruns
(4,120 posts)Igel
(35,380 posts)calimary
(81,546 posts)for a pardon when Orange Man gets back to the White House. My suspicion anyway.
vanlassie
(5,693 posts)cstanleytech
(26,337 posts)Maraya1969
(22,508 posts)SleeplessinSoCal
(9,161 posts)I lost a lot of respect for Melber.
COL Mustard
(5,938 posts)Are they going to add more time for an ethics violation?
Hed do or say anything to get out of prison sooner.
Texin
(2,600 posts)That would result in having more time added to any remaining months of his served sentence. UNLESS he's already been disbarred (which he has been IIRC) and it doesn't apply to him anymore. I think he's just wanting to hit back at her and the prosecution from his own conviction and to generate churn for a future book deal or something. Sour grapes much, Michael? Of course litigators are show ponies and want attention.
He ought to really think that through before he opens his mouth or he could be sued for slander and/or defamation and add a hefty civ/pen on top of his incarceration sentence.
Attilatheblond
(2,235 posts)Must be lonely in prison. No microphones, no TV cameras, oh, how he must be jones-ing for some media attention.
Texin
(2,600 posts)As I said before, trial lawyers are show ponies and are narcissists in their own right to a degree.
sop
(10,274 posts)The guy's a media attention whore. During his first fifteen minutes of fame the most dangerous place to be in America was between Avenatti and a television camera.
keopeli
(3,527 posts)backfiring. A normal lawyer would not allow it due to his lack of credibility and motive for revenge. TSF's lawyers don't fall into the 'normal lawyer' category.
I think he's an attention whore that is flapping his mouth because he's so bored and pissed.
Can you believe the hypocrisy of this guy, who was once lauded for his anti-TSF rhetoric nationally? I used to enjoy his commentary. Just goes to show you that you can never be too skeptical of what you hear.
Mom taught me: Don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you read. Modern day translation: Don't believe anything you hear on Teevee and only half of what you read on the internet.
JohnSJ
(92,475 posts)stealing.
keopeli
(3,527 posts)agree with you.
JohnSJ
(92,475 posts)dchill
(38,569 posts)mucifer
(23,577 posts)JohnSJ
(92,475 posts)his lies about his claims about his client. The convicted felon is no doubt going to say she is a liar because that is what he spewed on Aris show, and got no pushback.
No doubt he wants a pardon if Trump wins
I hope Ari loses viewers because of that stunt he pulled, but I suspect he will get more viewers instead.
dem4decades
(11,308 posts)Meaning he didn't care that he was putting a shithead on the air.
ificandream
(9,410 posts)Ari Melber is one of the best people on MSNBC. That interview said more about Avenatti than it does about Melber. People should be raising more cackles at the crap Fox does on a daily basis than for a single interview on MSNBC. MSNBC knows how to do journalism. Fox wouldn't know how to if it bit them on the ass.
hlthe2b
(102,447 posts)His two legal guests after that interview were rightfully fit to be tied.
JohnSJ
(92,475 posts)felon being given a forum to spew his lies. Too bad Ari didnt push back on Avenattis garbage.
Novara
(5,860 posts)He is so hell-bent on being thought of as the guy who gets these interviews that he doesn't understand the deleterious effect on the public of giving these assholes microphones just for his own self-aggrandizement. Fuck him.
Trueblue1968
(17,243 posts)Think. Again.
(8,561 posts)...that attorney-client privilege would leave this witness with nothing of value to the case.
Barry Markson
(239 posts)I suppose if the shoe fits or,
If it doesn't fit you must acquit. H/T Johnny Cochran.
radical noodle
(8,016 posts)is involved... therefore Cohen can testify against trump. At least that's my understanding.
Barry Markson
(239 posts)Or just alleged.
radical noodle
(8,016 posts)how would it ever apply? Cohen has the documents, the recordings, all the backup for proof.
TeamProg
(6,310 posts)/media lawyers have said that TFS is toast.
Marcuse
(7,532 posts)Ocelot II
(115,920 posts)But if he is called to testify about Stormy's credibility or otherwise relating to what she told him about the payment from Trump, communications between him and her when she was his client are still privileged because Stormy hadn't committed a crime, nor was he involved in a crime with her at the time. He was representing her in her lawsuit to void the nondisclosure agreement relating to the hush money payment, but accepting hush money isn't a crime. I don't think Avenatti can overcome the attorney-client privilege, which belongs to the client, unless Stormy waives it by testifying as to their communications. If she does, then he could testify in rebuttal.
FBaggins
(26,775 posts)Accepting hush money isn't a crime - but demanding it can be extortion (which of course is a crime that he's been involved in before).
forthemiddle
(1,383 posts)Or is it only an ethics violation? If it isnt against the law, then why would he care about the ethic violation since I think hes already lost his law license.
Ocelot II
(115,920 posts)forthemiddle
(1,383 posts)Thanks!
Vinca
(50,319 posts)the cameras and he's probably been begging them for months to testify.
Novara
(5,860 posts)I remember when he first came on the scene he was so well respected for his representation of Stephanie Clifford and how he handled it. He's nothing but a crook just like Orange Droolius.
IF he does testify (and I'll bet Merchan won't allow it), the prosecution can hardly argue he has no credibility as a convicted felon while arguing that Michael Cohen has credibility despite being a convicted felon. The only difference is that Cohen already served his sentence.
But Avenatti doesn't have anything to add anyway because he wasn't involved in the payout scheme. It's clear he doesn't give a damn about attorney-client privilege anymore, and all he can offer is defamation, which isn't actually an issue here. There are receipts of the crime. Stephanie Clifford's character has nothing to do with the case.
Merchan probably wouldn't allow his testimony, just because he doesn't have anything to offer.
Freethinker65
(10,078 posts)Would Trump really risk being unstaged in his trial by a possibly greater egotistical media hog?
Lulu KC
(2,575 posts)If you look in the dictionary under "desperation," there he is.
badhair77
(4,222 posts)and pay your debt to society. No one wants to hear from you.
TeamProg
(6,310 posts)Deuxcents
(16,375 posts)bluestarone
(17,091 posts)Have TFG contacted y ou? Then 2nd question should be, Have you been offered any compensation of ANY type to testify? Then go from there about his lies.
Ponietz
(3,044 posts)Its called impeachment. This is a nothing burger.
agingdem
(7,868 posts)PSPS
(13,623 posts)PJMcK
(22,059 posts)If Trumps lawyers are seriously considering Avenatti as a defense witness, it shows how thin their case will be. Hes a terribly flawed witness who would be destroyed on cross examination.
Fundamentally, Trump has no defense. Hes guilty beyond the charges.
Docreed2003
(16,887 posts)🤣🤣
Woodwizard
(847 posts)Back when he was on every sensational TV show, I though he is an attention whore just like trump.
There were quite a few syrupy posts about him at the time.
That trend still happens, like the unflagging defense of Alec Baldwin who cheaped out on hiring non union workers.
SKKY
(11,827 posts)And some on DU were ready to cast their vote for him right then and there? Yea. Like Rick James once said, "Fame. It's a hell of a drug!"
mopinko
(70,274 posts)cuz they got nuthin now.
hay rick
(7,649 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(145,722 posts)This asshole is in prison and wants people to pay attention to him
marmar
(77,102 posts)Autumn
(45,120 posts)Botany
(70,618 posts)Please let the team that is defending the disgraced ex President bring a convicted and disgraced felon out
of prison to help their side this would really help Trumps image.
Grins
(7,243 posts)
cant be trusted because he is a convicted liar, now want to bring a convicted liar OUT OF HIS PRISON CELL to testify for a guy on trial for lying and fraud!
Oh, to be that prosecutor that glorious day.
ificandream
(9,410 posts)... and I'll add that I would think Avenatti won't be allowed to just spew shit about her. I would guess the prosecutors will find a way to keep him off the witness list.
Ponietz
(3,044 posts)orangecrush
(19,652 posts)Mister Ed
(5,945 posts)People who (seriously!) wanted him to run for President?
KS Toronado
(17,384 posts)JenniferJuniper
(4,515 posts)struggle4progress
(118,379 posts)Justice matters.
(6,946 posts)for money to pay his lavish lifestyle (Ferrari's are not cheap...) that other conman's credibility is in the gutter!
Nasruddin
(754 posts)He's like an anti-witness: "Whatever he says - NOT!"
soldierant
(6,940 posts)dumb enough to fall for it.
Every ugly word they say about Michael Cohen will be turned back on them if they put Avenatti on the stand.
(IMO Cohen has the credibility that Avenatti doesn't and has prvved it in, for one example, his work with MEidas Touch.)
enki23
(7,791 posts)His defense doesn't include the idea that Stormy Daniels made it all up. I'm not sure that it would matter in this case if she did. His own lawyer went to prison for his role in paying her hush money. The sex wasn't illegal. The payments weren't illegal either, though both would have been if they'd been agreed to ahead of time. I'd guess they probably were, but both he and Ms. Daniels are motivated to pretend otherwise. Trump wanted to cover up the payments to hide them because they were damaging to his presidential campaign and committed several types of alleged fraud in seeking to do that. The payments are a matter of record. What "lie" could Ms. Daniels have possibly told that has any relevance to this case? Does Trump want Mr. Avenatti to testify under oath that Mr. Trump doesn't really have a mushroom dick?
iemanja
(53,093 posts)Evolve Dammit
(16,788 posts)marble falls
(57,395 posts)... cheap suit at his own trial.
Chainfire
(17,671 posts)I can't say as I blame him for that. Would he be testifying as a character witness?