Donald Trump’s sworn nemesis, American lawyer Michael Avenatti, was sentenced this Thursday (2) to four years in prison for stealing $300,000 from a porn actress who revealed he had an affair with the former president for more than 15 years.
The 51-year-old Californian was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for extorting money from Nike sporting goods company in July last year. According to the Manhattan District Attorney, the two convictions will be combined.
“Lawyers must be loyal and protect their clients. Michael Avenatti stole his client’s identity and money to fill his pockets,” he criticized, quoting in a statement condemning “shameless crimes and betrayal.”
This lawsuit arose between February 2018 and March 2019 while Trump was occupying the White House. Avenatti played ex-porn star Stormy Daniels, who said she had a brief love affair with her New York boss in 2006.
Her registered name, Stephanie Clifford, denounced the 45th president of the United States to justice for seeking to revoke a confidentiality agreement that prohibited her from speaking about the case.
His attorney, Avenatti, has become a popular figure on the left as a strong critic of the Republican president, gaining prominence in the press and on social media. It was even alleged that he had ambitions for the White House.
But in March 2019, the lawyer was accused of tax evasion and attempting to extort Nike. He was finally found guilty in February 2020 and sentenced to 30 months in prison in July 2021.
However, Avenatti’s case against Stormy Daniels was still pending. In February, Manhattan Federal Court found that he cheated and robbed Clifford and his publisher, embezzled $300,000 from their bank accounts, and embezzled $800,000 awarded to him for the former actress’s book “Full Disclosure” about her relationship with Trump.
Half of the money – the other half was later returned – was spent by the lawyer on travel, restaurants and a Ferrari.
source: Noticias
