Stormy Daniels news – Michael Avenatti begins cross-examination of porn star in his own fraud trial
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Stormy Daniels testified today in a Manhattan court against her former lawyer Michael Avenatti, who is alleged to have swindled her out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Mr Avenatti has said he will question her for “six hours”, but the judge seemed unimpressed by the suggestion.
His cross-examination of Ms Daniels began just ten minutes before the end of Thursday’s proceedings. Mr Avenatti took over representation of himself from his legal team on Tuesday, saying it is “the best chance at winning” the case.
The California lawyer is accused of stealing $300,000 of the money Ms Daniels was owed for her autobiography. He is charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Mr Avenatti became well known nationally in 2018 as he represented Ms Daniels in lawsuits against Donald Trump. He was briefly something of a hero for many anti-Trumpers, but come 2020 he began a spectacular fall from grace that saw him sentenced to jail for trying to extort Nike out of millions of dollars.
The book at the centre of the Avenatti-Daniels case
The court proceedings now underway revolve around Avenatti’s alleged theft of some $300,000 in money Ms Daniels was due for her 2018 book Full Disclosure, which told the story of how she ended up in the middle of the Trump story.
Here’s our deep dive into the book from when it was first released:
Here are all the highlights from Stormy Daniels' bombshell book about her alleged affair with Trump
Stormy Daniels has promised to tell the full story of her alleged affair with Donald Trump. And now that story — sometimes shocking, sometimes tragic — is finally here.
Stormy Daniels: 'I hope Trump sees a doctor'
In the interview Michael Cohen has shared on his podcast today, Ms Daniels discussed her thoughts on Trump running for re-election in 2024.
“He’s a monster,” she said. “He’ll do and say anything...I will say that I hate to cut him any slack whatsoever, it pains me, but the conversations I had with him back in 2006 are very different than listening to him speak today. I really hope that he sees a doctor. He was obnoxious and an asshole and all those things, but the conversations at least were complete sentences and actual words. It seems he’s losing some of his faculties.”
The exchange starts at around 55 minutes in.
Avenatti submits document arguing merits of cross-examining Daniels
Michael Avenatti has submitted a document to Judge Jesse Furman arguing in support of examining witnesses Stephanie Clifford (known as Stormy Daniels) and Luke Janklow.
His document comes after Daniels submitted documents arguing she should not be questioned about “irrelevant” topics, such as her financial statements and back taxes.
Read Avenatti’s submission in full here.
When will Stormy Daniels appear in court?
Law & Crime’s Adam Klasfeld reports that Ms Daniels will take the stand later today. According to Avenatti, he intends to cross-examine her for six hours...
First up, however, is Sean Ernesto Macias, who will be finishing the testimony he began yesterday – an appearance in which he testified that Avenatti offered to represent Ms Daniels for just $1.
Avenatti in good spirits...
It seems Stormy Daniels’s former lawyer-turned-nemesis is feeling upbeat ahead of today’s proceedings...
Reporter Meghann Cunniff writes that among the various matters Avenatti is trying to introduce into the trial is an alleged hush money payment made to suppress a video that would have cast Ms Daniels in an unflattering light:
Forensic phone evidence raised at trial
The prosecution have called an expert witness to testify about text message exchanges between Avenatti and Ms Daniels.
Catch up: how did we get here?
As we wait for Stormy Daniels to take the stand in the trial of her onetime ally and lawyer, here’s a piece explaining what the trial is all about.
Once allies, Stormy Daniels and Avenatti face off at trial
The porn star who catapulted Michael Avenatti to fame four years ago will get a starring role in a New York courtroom when prosecutors try to prove the California lawyer cheated her of $300,000 in book proceeds
Avenatti asks witness to roleplay his exchanges with Daniels
Avenatti is having the prosecution’s forensic witness play the part of Stormy Daniels as the two read through the text exchanges that have been submitted in evidence.