Things for Michael Avenatti haven't been that great in recent times. He's led the charges against R. Kelly and became a celebrity in his own right after representing Stormy Daniels in her suit against Donald Trump. Unfortunately, the same case that helped him become one of the most prominent figures in law has also resulted in charges of defrauding his client.
According to the Associated Press, Michael Avenatti was charged on Wednesday for ripping off Daniels in her legal battle against Trump. Federal prosecutors accused Avenatti of using a forged document to rip off $300K from Daniels that was meant to help the adult film star land a book deal. They claim that he used the funds for personal and business expenses and at this point, he's only paid back half of the amount.
Avenatti claimed his innocence on Twitter. "No monies relating to Ms. Daniels were ever misappropriated or mishandled. 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,” he wrote.
These allegations shouldn't come as a shock as not only was he charged for allegedly trying to extort Nike but also, because Daniels has previously accused him of some shady business practices.
"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," she told The Daily Beast. "He has repeatedly ignored those requests. Days ago I demanded again, repeatedly, that he tell me how the money was being spent and how much was left. 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."
