Michael Avenatti now representing himself at Stormy Daniels trial
Michael Avenatti will represent himself at his criminal trial in Manhattan federal court after what he called a “breakdown” in the relationship between him and his attorneys — and will now likely grill Stormy Daniels when she takes the stand.
The disgraced lawyer made a formal request to Judge Jesse Furman that he be allowed to invoke his constitutional right to represent himself in the case after a brief lunch break Tuesday.
During the spiel, Avenatti said there was a “breakdown in the relationship between me and my counsel that goes to the heart of my ability to mount a defense.”
“I make this decision knowingly and voluntarily,” he said, adding that he could proceed in the case without delay.
The former high-powered lawyer said outside the courthouse that the decision is his best shot at avoiding a guilty verdict.
“It’s my arena. It’s where I’m most at home. And I think it gives me the best chance at winning,” he said.
“I am completely innocent,” he added.
After Avenatti made the request, Furman briefly quizzed him to determine if he was sober and mentally sound enough to act as his own lawyer.
Furman appointed the attorneys who were representing him as “standby counsel” and they remained in the courtroom after Avenatti took over his defense.
Asked if he had thoughts about Avenatti’s choice, one of his court-appointed attorneys, Andrew Dalack, responded: “No thoughts.”
Avenatti’s decision will pit him against Daniels, who is expected to testify at the trial in Manhattan federal court as soon as Wednesday.
Daniels, who is at the heart of the case, is expected to be the star witness for the prosecution – and Avenatti will now be allowed to cross-examine her himself.
The embattled attorney was arrested by federal authorities in 2019 for allegedly stealing nearly $300,000 in book-advance money from Daniels a year prior.
Daniels inked a book deal in 2018 after it emerged she had been paid off by Michael Cohen, who was former President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, to keep quiet about an alleged affair she had with Trump.
“This is an important moment in the case,” Furman said before granting Avenatti’s request.
Avenatti cross-examined his former paralegal, Judy Regnier, for more than an hour after Furman allowed him to move forward as his own lawyer.
He asked Regnier a series of questions about the extensive work the firm did on behalf of Daniels, including resolving criminal charges against her in Ohio and a legal dispute with her ex-husband in Texas.
Avenatti allegedly forged Daniels’ signature on a letter to a literary agent in an attempt to funnel book-advance payments into an account he controlled.
The letter worked, and two payments totaling nearly $300,000 were deposited into the account, the feds allege.
The loudmouth lawyer then spent the funds on things like payroll for his failing law practice, as well as a lease payment for a Ferrari, travel expenses, food and dry cleaning, according to the indictment against him.
