Michael Avenatti, the lawyer accused of stealing from former client Stormy Daniels, gave his first prison interview on Tuesday about Donald Trump’s criminal case in New York. The case revolves around claimed payments made by Trump to Daniels to keep her quiet about their romance, as well as the alleged falsification of business records to conceal those payments prior to the 2016 presidential election.
However, the discredited lawman claimed that the entire case is “stale” and based on a “legally tenuous theory.”
Avenatti spoke with MSNBC’s Ari Melber from Los Angeles’ Terminal Island prison, where he is serving a 19-year term. Avenatti was convicted not just of scamming Daniels but also of stealing from other clients and extorting Nike. Melber began the discussion by highlighting Avenatti’s record, but emphasized that he is still a “very newsworthy and legally relevant guest.”
When asked to comment on the strength of the Manhattan district attorney’s case, Avenatti stated that his response would “surprise” people.
“I think this is the wrong case at the wrong time,” he told The Beat’s anchor, adding that it is “in many ways stale at this juncture.”
“You’re talking about behavior that occurred eight years ago. I believe that the fact that it is taking place in state court in New York is an error. “And I believe it is a mistake to potentially deprive tens of millions of Americans of their choice for the presidency of the United States, whether we agree with those people or not, or whatever we think of Donald Trump,” Avenatti claimed.
A felony conviction does not prevent a presidential candidate from winning or assuming office.
Avenatti went on to say that charges against Trump connected to January 6 should have been filed earlier and that if they had, “we would not be in the situation we are in right now.”
In terms of what he views as problematic in the case, Avenatti cited Michael Cohen’s credibility, claiming that his testimony on the stand has the “potential to be a disaster.”
Prosecutors claim that Trump paid Cohen recurring reimbursements for payments he made to Daniels, but falsely claimed they were for Cohen’s legal services, violating New York state law. Prosecutors are likely to charge that Trump violated federal campaign financing law in doing so.
Cohen spent three years in prison for the incident.
Avenatti also claimed that Trump would not receive a fair trial in New York, an allegation Trump has made repeatedly.
“I believe the case has a number of issues. Now, I don’t mean to say that Trump will not be convicted; in fact, I believe he will be convicted because, for starters, he is a criminal defendant, and in our society, I don’t believe criminal defendants get a fair deal,” Avenatti stated. “In reality, I believe the conviction ratio demonstrates a significant bias against all criminal defendants—number one.” Number two: “I don’t believe he can get a fair trial in New York.”
Jury selection in the case is set for April 15. Two of Trump’s last-ditch pleas to postpone the trial were dismissed on Monday and earlier in the day on Tuesday.
