WATCH: Convicted Felon Avenatti Attempts to Tarnish Trump’s Reputation During MSNBC Interview
Infamous personality and convicted criminal, Michael Avenatti, was recently a part of a conversation with Ari Melber from MSNBC. He was invited to share his viewpoint regarding the ongoing legal battle that faces our former President, Donald Trump. Avenatti, currently in service of a lengthy 19-year term for various crimes including identity theft and fraud, purportedly stole significant sums from a book penned by his previous client, Stormy Daniels.
It’s worth noting that Avenatti gained much of his fame through high-profile representation of Daniels during the Trump administration. Daniels claimed to have had an extramarital relationship with Trump. The recent charges against President Trump have been encouraged by NYC District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who alleges that Trump committed 34 felonies, mostly associated with falsification of corporate records to conceal payoffs related to the alleged affair.
Trump, consistently maintaining his innocence, has submitted a plea of not guilty. Avenatti was invited to give his view on the charges via a phone-call to The Beat on MSNBC, issued from the Federal Correctional Institution located in Terminal Island, California.
In his own words, Avenatti conceded that there may be several complexities surrounding the case. Yet, he also articulated an implicit belief that Trump would eventually be convicted. He explained his reasoning by conveying a general disbelief in equal treatment for criminal defendants within our legal system.
Michael Avenatti called into MSNBC from prison.
He says the Stormy Daniels case against Trump is stale, and when you’re going to deprive tens of millions of Americans of their choice for president, it’s a mistake to use this case.
Watch Ari Melber’s face, priceless ? pic.twitter.com/gSCuloJvbK
— Eddie (@ICU1010) April 10, 2024
During the conversation, Avenatti echoed the sentiments of Trump’s defense team who insist that a fair trial in New York may be something of a challenge. Contrasting this claim, those who believe that Trump can indeed receive a fair trial, Avenatti asked them to consider whether their faith in the process would remain if the trial were to move to a location such as Mississippi or Alabama.
Avenatti also gave his opinion on Michael Cohen, the individual, accused of paying Stormy Daniels a sum of $130,000 to remain silent about her alleged relationship with Trump. Avenatti expressed significant skepticism regarding the trustworthiness of Cohen as a potentially critical witness in the case.
Presumably based on his own experience, Avenatti shared his belief that the District Attorney may choose to leverage either Stormy Daniels or Michael Cohen in the case against President Trump. However, he expressed concern that such a strategy may be flawed. He described Cohen as a serial liar and someone incapable of truthfulness.
Moreover, Avenatti was not sparing with his criticisms of Cohen’s legal expertise. Drawing a severe distinction between Cohen and historical legal greats, Avenatti asserted that if Learned Hand or Clarence Darrow were to have a successor, it certainly would not resemble Michael Cohen.
Earlier this week, a requesting delay for Donald Trump’s upcoming criminal trial was dismissed by a New York appeals court judge in a last-minute ruling. Trump’s ongoing efforts to push back this significant trial were once more thwarted when his request to postpone his criminal trial slated for April 15 while he attempts to move the case out of Manhattan was denied. The former president’s legal team argues that due to Manhattan’s Democratic-leaning demographic, Trump faces likely bias.
According to Emil Bove, counsel to President Trump, the probable prejudice stemming from the Manhattan-based trial is a significant concern. Bove indicated on Monday that due to an analysis of defense surveys and media coverage, fair selection of a jury was almost impossible.
The suggestion to move the trial elsewhere in New York has arisen, specifically to Staten Island. In fact, this is the only New York City borough Trump secured in the 2016 and 2020 elections. The appeal made on social media suggests that a fair trial within this location could indeed be achievable.
In response to this request, the appellate chief for the Manhattan district attorney’s office, Steven Wu, pointed out a previous denial by trial judge Juan M. Merchan. Wu argues that the case’s timing is not determined by an arbitrary polling of New York locals, rather a jury that consists of 12 impartial and unbiased individuals.
It’s Steven Wu’s assertion that pretrial publicity is exacerbated by President Trump, primarily due to his countless media appearances. During these appearances, details pertaining to the case, witnesses, and other specifics are often shared directly from the former president himself.
Alongside these concerns, another appeal centers on a recent order restraining Trump from discussing certain details about the case. This includes the judge’s family, an area off-limits, as per another extension of the aforementioned order by the same judge, Merchan.
Currently, Trump’s legal team are challenging this restraining order applied to him throughout the case. It will be interesting to see how this objection unfolds. The appeals court has indicated that they will review this case in the future, which could have fascinating implications on the high-profile trial.