Disgraced former Stormy Daniels lawyer says he would now testify for Trump

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: UK Independent

11 hours ago


Michael Avenatti, the disgraced former lawyer for Stormy Daniels, has said that he is in touch with Donald Trump’s 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. “I’d be more than happy to testify, I don’t know that I will be called to testify, but I have been in touch with Trump’s 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]

1. Can't imagine what he could testify to that would cut into the

prosecution's case. He legally represented Stormy Daniels and he's barred from testifying about anything that is privileged information during that time.

[JohnSJ]

7. When he was on Ari's show he spewed how she was a liar and other

negative attributes about his former client. He doesn’t care, he is already in prison for fraud, embezzlement, and stealing, not just from Daniel’s, but Nike, etc.

He has nothing to lose, and hopes Trump wins and gives him a pardon.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

17. My first thought that came to mind this morning is...

... he is in prison and will do just about anything for a Happy Meal!

[Sneederbunk]

55. Or a pardon should TSF be re-elected.

[usaf-vet]

57. A pardon and to get his law license back. This makes him slimmer than before.

[Ray Bruns]

69. What a scumbag.

[Igel]

79. Not a good way to avoid Type II diabetes. n/t

[calimary]

32. He made a deal with the Devil (donald Satan trump)

for a pardon when Orange Man gets back to the White House. My suspicion anyway.

[vanlassie]

44. Bite your tongue.

[cstanleytech]

41. That is going to depend on the judges decision.

[Maraya1969]

67. OK that makes sense. Thank you.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

77. Ari's worst hour.

I lost a lot of respect for Melber.

[COL Mustard]

23. He's already in prison

Are they going to add more time for an ethics violation?

He’d do or say anything to get out of prison sooner.

[Texin]

34. If "he'd do or say anything to get out of prison sooner", why in hell would he risk an ethics violation?

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]

39. Also, he too is a narcissist and TSF's current trial would bring some attention to him.

Must be lonely in prison. No microphones, no TV cameras, oh, how he must be jones-ing for some media attention.

[Texin]

43. He might get even lonelier if the slam him into solitary confinement.

As I said before, trial lawyers are show ponies and are narcissists in their own right to a degree.

[sop]

29. Avenatti just wants another fifteen minutes of fame.

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]

2. He's a smart guy (too smart for his britches). He can find a way to get back at Stormy, though it has a chance of

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]

5. He isn't smart or he wouldn't be in prison for fraud, embezzlement, and

stealing.

[keopeli]

36. I meant smart as opposed to intelligent. Lots of smart people (Harvard, Yale, etc) become repugs and criminals. But, I

agree with you.

[JohnSJ]

37. Got it. Thanks

[dchill]

50. Yeah, not quite smart enough.

[mucifer]

3. that sleaze bucket said before that he was in prison because trump didn't like him.

[JohnSJ]

4. I blame Ari for giving this POS airtime on his show to spew

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 Ari’s 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]

8. Not one of Ari's finest moments, Ari just wanted to take a bow for getting an interview from prison,

Meaning he didn't care that he was putting a shithead on the air.

[ificandream]

49. A journalist takes a story that's out there no matter how people react to it.

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]

9. So do I. Ari is becoming all about "Ari," consequences, ethics of some of his interviews be damned...

His two legal guests after that interview were rightfully fit to be tied.

[JohnSJ]

11. Yes, those two guests were scathing in their criticism of the convicted

felon being given a forum to spew his lies. Too bad Ari didn’t push back on Avenatti’s garbage.

[Novara]

12. Another reason I refuse to watch msnbc

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]

6. Guy is seeking 15 more seconds of fame.

[Think. Again.]

10. I suspect the prosecution can argue...

...that attorney-client privilege would leave this witness with nothing of value to the case.

[Barry Markson]

16. Wouldn't the same hold true for Brag's "Star" witness Cohen then?

I suppose if the shoe fits or,

If it doesn't fit you must acquit. H/T Johnny Cochran.

[radical noodle]

19. No attorney client privilege if a crime

is involved... therefore Cohen can testify against trump. At least that's my understanding.

[Barry Markson]

20. Has a crime been proven?

Or just alleged.

[radical noodle]

24. If it must be proven in a courtroom first

how would it ever apply? Cohen has the documents, the recordings, all the backup for proof.

[TeamProg]

25. Cohen went to jail for his part of this crime. I think that is mainly why public

/media lawyers have said that TFS is toast.

[Marcuse]

74. Cohen was prosecuted by the Trump DOJ, no less.

[Ocelot II]

52. The attorney-client privilege doesn't apply if the attorney was involved in the crime.

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]

58. That depends a great deal on what he is willing to claim

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]

63. Is attorney client a law?

Or is it only an ethics violation? If it isn’t against the law, then why would he care about the ethic violation since I think he’s already lost his law license.

[Ocelot II]

66. Yes. It's the law as well as an ethics rule.

[forthemiddle]

72. You learn something new every day!

Thanks!

[Vinca]

13. Another clown enters the circus tent. Avenatti is not unexpected. He loves the attention and

the cameras and he's probably been begging them for months to testify.

[Novara]

14. What a loser

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]

15. Hope he knows to get his money up front!

Would Trump really risk being unstaged in his trial by a possibly greater egotistical media hog?

[Lulu KC]

18. Oh, man

If you look in the dictionary under "desperation," there he is.

[badhair77]

21. Just stay in your jail cell

and pay your debt to society. No one wants to hear from you.

[TeamProg]

22. He such a likable guy! The jury will love him!

[Deuxcents]

26. A real credible witness 🙃

[bluestarone]

27. One of the first questions should be

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]

28. That felony fraud conviction would be jammed down his throat on cross

It’s called impeachment. This is a nothing burger.

[agingdem]

30. I'm guessing Avenatti is looking for a Trump pardon...

[PSPS]

31. LOL. "Avenatti told The New York Post FROM PRISON" -- now THAT'S a credible witness if I've ever seen one!

[PJMcK]

33. Just the witness to buttress Trump's defense

If Trump’s lawyers are seriously considering Avenatti as a defense witness, it shows how thin their case will be. He’s a terribly flawed witness who would be destroyed on cross examination.

Fundamentally, Trump has no defense. He’s guilty beyond the charges.

[Docreed2003]

35. Remember when there were folks here on DU who wanted Avenatti to run for president??

🤣🤣

[Woodwizard]

65. Yes I do.

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]

75. Remember when he went to Iowa to feel out his chances???

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]

38. i predict they put him on.

cuz they got nuthin now.

[hay rick]

40. Birds of a feather.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

42. This asshole hates being out of the limelight and is craving attention

This asshole is in prison and wants people to pay attention to him

[marmar]

45. I think he has a bit of a credibility problem

[Autumn]

46. Obviously he needs money. How much is he thinking that trump will pay him?

[Botany]

47. Nappy B. aka Napoleon Bonaparte, When your enemy is hurting themselves let 'em.

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 Trump’s image.

[Grins]

48. PERFECT!!! The same guys who say Michael Cohen...

…can’t 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]

51. Great point ...

... 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]

62. Self inflicted impact injury for certain

[orangecrush]

53. Perfect!

[Mister Ed]

54. Remember when he had lotsa fans on DU?

People who (seriously!) wanted him to run for President?

[KS Toronado]

56. LOL, He only uses the best inmate prison lawyers from jail !

[JenniferJuniper]

59. He just wants a day pass.

[struggle4progress]

60. +!

[Justice matters.]

61. After all the crimes he's done and not just to her...

for money to pay his lavish lifestyle (Ferrari's are not cheap...) that other conman's credibility is in the gutter!

[Nasruddin]

64. He should testify

He's like an anti-witness: "Whatever he says - NOT!"

[soldierant]

68. It would be interesting - if the Trump** defense team is

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]

70. What would he testify about? Trump is being charged with falsifying business records.

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]

71. He's always been a sleezebag.

[Evolve Dammit]

73. What a whore. n/t

[marble falls]

76. Put him and Cohen into the ring. Two men enter, one man leaves. I hope they call Avenatti. He folded like a ...

... cheap suit at his own trial.

[Chainfire]

78. Avenatti is just looking for a short vacation from the pen.

I can't say as I blame him for that. Would he be testifying as a character witness?

[keithbvadu2]

80. Well, that's certainly a voice of honor, honesty, and integrity speaking up for Trump.