Stormy Daniels & Michael Avenatti at the 2019 AVN Awards Red Carpet Arrivals at The Joint Inside The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Michael Avenatti, the attorney who represented adult film star Stormy Daniel in her legal battles against President Donald Trump, has been charged with defrauding her.
Federal prosecutors in New York say that Avenatti doctored documents in order to divert $300,000 from Daniel’s upcoming book deal and then used the money for personal and business expenses.
Avenatti denied the allegations on Twitter.
“No monies relating to Ms. Daniels were ever misappropriated or mishandled,” wrote Avenatti. “She received millions of dollars worth of legal services and we spent huge sums in expenses. She directly paid only $100.00 for all that she received. I look forward to a jury hearing the evidence.”
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, initially hired Avenatti when she sought to invalidate the nondisclosure agreement she sign with Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen.
In a statement by Daniels, she alleges that Avenatti wasn’t forthcoming about money.
“For months I’ve asked Michael Avenatti to give me accounting information about the fund my supporters so generously donated to for my safety and legal defense. He has repeatedly ignored those requests,” she wrote.
“Days ago I demanded again, repeatedly, that he tell me how the money was being spent and how much was left,” she continued. “Instead of answering me, without my permission or even my knowledge Michael launched another crowdfunding campaign to raise money on my behalf. I learned about it on Twitter.”
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In addition to defrauding Daniels, Avenatti is charged for allegedly extorting Nike.
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