Is disgraced attorney Michael Avenatti about to make a comeback? Given his recent appearances on various media outlets, it seems the attention-seeking former lawyer is trying to insert himself into political discourse even from prison.
Advertisement
Remember back in 2018 when the media was fawning all over the brave and intrepid lawyer who was willing to stand up to the Orange Man What Is Bad™ on behalf of his client, adult film actress Stormy Daniels? The former barrister had quite a fan club in America’s legacy media outlets and among members of the left-wing chattering class.
Progressive women wanted him. Progressive men wanted to be him – at least the ones who don’t want to be women.
Avenatti was so beloved that he was even nicknamed “Hottie Avenatti” by the anti-Trump intelligentsia. For sure, this man would be the one to slay the Orange Goliath. There was even talk of the Creepy Porn lawyer running against Trump in 2020.
Then, Avenatti pulled an Icarus and got a little too ambitious for his own good. The man actually tried to extort Nike and is now serving a prison sentence for his chutzpah.
The jury’s decision in U.S. District Court in Manhattan came after a three-week trial for the California lawyer, who faces a statutory maximum of 42 years in prison when he is sentenced in June.
“Today a unanimous jury found Michael Avenatti guilty of misusing his client’s information in an effort to extort tens of millions of dollars from the athletic apparel company Nike,” U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said in a statement. “While the defendant may have tried to hide behind legal terms and a suit and tie, the jury clearly saw the defendant’s scheme for what it was — an old-fashioned shakedown.”
Avenatti glared at the jurors as the verdict was being announced, but didn’t say anything. Afterward, he shook hands with his lawyers and told them, “great job.”
Advertisement
Yet, the lawyer-turned-inmate has reemerged like a crazy obsessed ex-girlfriend still trying to get attention. Now, he seems to have had a change of heart about his former nemesis, former President Donald Trump.
During an appearance earlier this month on MSNBC, Avenatti gave commentary about Trump’s hush money case in Manhattan, criticizing District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against the former president and predicting he will be convicted.
During an interview with the New York Post, Avenatti indicated that he has been in touch with Trump’s legal defense team and said he would be “more than happy to testify” in the former president’s defense.
He also pointed out what everyone already knows, “There’s no question [the trial] is politically motivated because they’re concerned that he may be reelected.”
In yet another media appearance on Fox News, the former lawyer told host Sean Hannity that the case against Trump is “grossly unfair” and that it is “an effort to deprive millions of Americans of their choice for president.”
Advertisement
Let’s get something straight: Avenatti has not suddenly seen the light. He is an opportunist who thought he could use Stormy Daniels’ case to gain fame and fortune. Now he is glomming on to the Trump team to gain at least a semblance of relevancy now that he is in prison and nobody is talking about him anymore.
The Creepy Porn lawyer is doing what he has always done – he is trying desperately to get his name out there once again. And unfortunately, some media outlets are falling for it, giving him exactly what he wants.