Michael Avenatti: Donald Trump Jr gloats as lawyer found guilty of trying to extort millions from Nike

Michael Avenatti, the firebrand attorney who represented porn star Stormy Daniels in her lawsuits against Donald Trump, has been found guilty on all county of attempting to extort Nike out of millions of dollars.

The jury decision, which came Friday at a district court in Manhattan, was the latest bad news to plague the embattled lawyer, whose fall from grace also includes a separate 36-count federal indictment.

Avenatti, a fierce critic of the president who has become a regular target for Mr Trump and his inner circle, was quickly mocked over the guilty verdict by Donald Trump Jr.

The first son called him a “shoe in for the 2064 Democratic nomination” after the verdict was announced, noting how he was considering a run for the White House in 2018.

Mr Trump Jr wrote on Friday: "I look forward to Michael's witty twitter retorts to the jury that just found him guilty in all counts. Though I'm told he is still doing well amongst the Democrat primary contenders. #basta ​MAGA: Michael Avenatti Going Away."

The convictions for attempted extortion and honest services fraud carry a combined potential penalty of 42 years in prison.

Avenatti glared at the jurors as the verdict was being announced but said nothing.

Afterward, he shook hands with his lawyers and told them "great job", before he was led back to the cell where he has been held since a judge found he had violated his bail conditions.

His lawyer, Scott Srebnick, declined to comment but said he would appeal the conviction. A judge set sentencing for June.

Avenatti, 48, became a cable news fixture in 2018 and 2019 as journalists courted him for information about Ms Daniels and her claims of an affair with Mr Trump before he became president, and a payoff to remain silent about it.

At his peak of notoriety, Avenatti used Twitter and TV appearances to relentlessly criticize Mr Trump.

But Avenatti's fall was swift. He was arrested as he was about to meet Nike lawyers last March to press his demands for millions of dollars to conduct an internal probe of the Beaverton, Oregon-based apparel maker.

Avenatti maintained he was taking the aggressive position at the urging of his client, Gary Franklin, who ran a youth basketball league in Los Angeles and was angry that Nike ended a decade-long sponsorship that provided $72,000 annually and free gear. He sought $1.5m for Mr Franklin, as well.

Mr Franklin testified that two Nike executives forced him to pay money to the mother of an elite high school basketball player's mother and to pass along payments to the handlers of other players while doctoring paperwork to hide the purpose of the funds.

Avenatti did not testify, but his lawyers said he was following the wishes of Mr Franklin and an entertainment executive who advised him to be aggressive to force Nike to fire corrupt executives and fix its culture.

Besides the extortion trial, Avenatti also faces an April trial in New York on charges that he defrauded Ms Daniels of book proceeds and a May trial in Los Angeles on charges that he defrauded clients and others of millions of dollars.

He remains held without bail. Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles succeeded last month in getting him locked up after saying he violated his $300,000 bail by moving money around illegally after his arrest.

Additional reporting by Associated Press