U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Stormy Daniel’s Ex-Lawyer Michael Avenatti’s Appeal Of Identity Theft Conviction

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court declined attorney Michael Avenatti‘s appeal of his aggravated identity theft conviction for stealing proceeds from adult film star Stormy Daniels.

In 2022, Avenatti was found guilty of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after stealing almost $300,000 that Daniels was to receive for her book, Full Disclosure, which discusses her alleged affair with the former president. Avenatti was sentenced to four years in prison.

Avenatti’s appeal cited a 2023 Supreme Court decision that narrows the scope of aggravated identity theft.

“This petition presents a clean vehicle for this Court to nip a circuit split in the bud,” Avenatti’s public defender wrote. The prosecution chose not to respond to the petition.

Avenatti’s rejection on Tuesday by the Supreme Court is the second of this year. In May, the court turned down an appeal of his conviction for plotting to steal $25 million from Nike.

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh chose to recuse himself from considering both petitions for unknown reasons.

Avenatti has recently become a defender of the former president, who he frequently attacked in the past. Many observers have suggested that Avenatti is angling for a pardon if the former president is re-elected.