Michael Avenatti, attorney and founding partner of Eagan Avenatti LP, will appear in federal court in Santa Ana, California, USA on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.
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Once prominent attorney Michael Avenatti said Thursday he would appeal his verdict and conviction for attempted blackmail against Nike.
Avenatti, who rose to fame as the representative of porn actress Stormy Daniels in her litigation against then-President Donald Trump, was sentenced to 30 months in prison earlier this month for the Nike program. Avenatti has been found guilty of extorting up to $ 25 million from Nike by threatening to divulge allegedly harmful information about the company.
An Avenatti attorney, Scott Srebnick, filed a document in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York stating that Avenatti will contest the verdict in addition to the underlying conviction. The appeal also extends to pre-judicial, judicial and post-judicial orders in this case. Avenatti is appealing to the second US appeals court in New York.
Srebnick did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the filing did not reveal the legal basis on which Avenatti intends to base his claim.
The appeal comes because Avenatti is faced with obstacles from multiple directions.
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A separate trial in California’s federal court is currently underway over allegations that Avenatti defrauded customers of nearly $ 10 million. Another trial on allegations of tax fraud and other crimes is due to take place later this year in California. Avenatti is also charged with defrauding Daniels out of money that she was supposed to receive through a book deal.
The appeal comes despite Avenatti, 50, who appears to be responsible for attempting to blackmail Nike during the conviction in the case.
“I alone have ruined my career, my relationships and my life. And there is no doubt that I have to pay,” he told District Judge Paul Gardephe, adding that he was “really sorry”.
Avenatti defends himself in the California trial. He said he made the unusual decision to forego professional representation because he wanted “the truth to be known”.
It is not clear who will represent Avenatti in its New York appeal. Srebnick will not defend Avenatti on appeal, according to the document submitted on Thursday.
Avenatti, who became a fixture on cable news and left-wing opinion broadcasts during his struggle against Trump, at some point contemplated running for the Democratic presidential run.
