‘Desperate’ Michael Avenatti Swindled Stormy Daniels Out of $300K, Prosecutors Argue
Michael Avenatti, the high-octane litigator who represented adult film star Stormy Daniels in her infamous “hush money” lawsuit against then-President Donald Trump, was in debt and “desperate” for cash when he stole part of the actress’ book advance, federal prosecutors said at his fraud trial Monday.
During opening statements, Manhattan prosecutors said the publisher of Daniels memoir agreed to pay her $800,000 but that Avenatti siphoned $300,000 of it by forging her signature on a letter to the publishing house.
Avenatti was “desperate for money” and his Newport Beach law firm was mired in debt when he took secret measures to collect the cash, assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Rohrbach told jurors.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here