Michael Avenatti to Plead Guilty to Stealing Millions From Clients

JUN 13 2022·Updated DEC 28 2022

Story

Image credit: Reuters

The Facts

According to court papers filed on Sun., disgraced lawyer Michael Avenatti, who represented porn actress Stormy Daniels in her lawsuits against former Pres. Donald Trump, offered to plead guilty to federal charges in California for stealing millions of dollars from clients, lying to the Internal Revenue Service and a bankruptcy court, and defrauding a bank.
Reuters
Prosecutors assert that Avenatti stole nearly $10M in settlement funds from at least five of his clients.
CNN
This month, Avenatti was sentenced to four years in prison for pocketing nearly $300k from Stormy Daniels for her book, Full Disclosure. He was also convicted in 2020 of extortion, the transmission of interstate communications with intent to extort, and wire fraud in regards to threats he made against the sports equipment giant Nike for $25M.
Reuters
Despite repeated efforts over the last month by Avenatti and his counsel, the defendant has been unable to reach a plea agreement with the government.
One America
Acting as his own primary counsel, Avenatti said he intends to "plead open," thereby allowing a judge to set punishment without any plea agreement with prosecutors.
NBC
A change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for Thurs. morning before Judge James Selna of the US District Court.
NBC

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

Formerly a darling of leftist media, Avenatti has fallen from the heady-heights of potential Democrat Presidential nomination, to pleading guilty to his crimes despite lack of a plea deal. The lawsuit against former Pres. Donald Trump brought by Stormy Daniels has been further undermined by her association with Avenatti and his professional fall out.

Breitbart

Democratic narrative

As it turned out, Avenatti was pedelling fabrications and selling them to the American left. However, Trumpism prompted far more significant and principled politicians and activists on to fight for the health of US democracy. Far more committed people like Miles Taylor have made great personal sacrifices in order to persevere against Trump's politics and their effect on democracy.