Michael Avenatti, once the star attorney for Stormy Daniels, was met by another disgraced attorney — former fixer for TFG, Michael Cohen — as Avenatti arrived at his own fraud trial.
Avenatti is accused of defrauding Ms. Daniels out of $300,000 in a book deal when he stole part of an $800,000 advance, according to federal attorneys for Daniels. In opening statements, the prosecutors said Avenatti forged her signature in a letter to the publisher.
Cohen and Avenatti have been bitter personal rivals since Avenatti represented Stormy Daniels in a failed defamation suit against TFG. Cohen was sentenced to three years in jail for multiple offences to which he pleaded guilty – among them tax evasion and campaign finance violations related to the Stormy Daniels “hush money” payment.
Cohen showed up early to taunt Avenatti at the trial on Monday morning.
Avenatti greeted Cohen by inquiring about his “Donald Trump kneepads.”
If convicted, Avenatti faces a maximum sentence of up to 22 years in prison on charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.