Avenatti says evidence he's cash-strapped doesn't belong in Nike extortion trial

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

POLITICS JANUARY 3, 2020 / 5:07 PM / UPDATED 40 MINUTES AGO

Avenatti says evidence he's cash-strapped doesn't belong in Nike extortion trial

Jonathan Stempel
3 MIN READ

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Michael Avenatti does not want U.S. prosecutors to present evidence at his criminal trial this month that his alleged financial straits, including an inability to pay child support, gave the celebrity lawyer a motive to extort Nike Inc.

In a filing on Friday, lawyers for Avenatti said it would be “so prejudicial to Mr. Avenatti as to deprive him of a fair trial” for prosecutors to suggest he was more than $15 million in debt, a claim Avenatti “vehemently disputes,” when he allegedly tried to extort up to $25 million from Nike.

Avenatti became famous representing porn star Stormy Daniels and being a self-described “high-profile nemesis” of President Donald Trump.

He has pleaded not guilty to illegally demanding millions of dollars from Nike last March in exchange for not publicizing allegations it made improper payments to top college basketball recruits, and for being hired to conduct an internal probe of Nike.

Avenatti was then representing Gary Franklin, a youth basketball coach who he said had information about improper payments.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-crime-avenatti/avenatti-says-evidence-hes-cash-strapped-doesnt-belong-in-nike-extortion-trial-idUSKBN1Z226Y

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Seems to me it's pretty relevant.

Evidence of the other shit he's done and for which he will also be tried might be deemed inadmissible, though, so they'd have to be careful how that's done. Of course he could argue that the reason he did it isn't that he needed the money, but just that he's a greedy fuck.

[Kurt V.]

2. i was hoping more would come out than nike bargained for . Wishful thinking with this guy.

[jberryhill]

3. How is he doing in the latest Iowa polling?

I remember when Michael Avenatti didn't even need money...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210505144#post44

From the government's recent filing in this case:


https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.516137/gov.uscourts.nysd.516137.108.0.pdf

The Government expects that the evidence at trial will show that, at the time of his charged conduct, the defendant was in significant debt. Specifically, the Government presently estimates that the defendant’s debts at that time were, conservatively, in excess of $15 million. These debts were owed to various sources, including the individual identified in the Superseding Indictment as Attorney-1, multiple of the defendant’s former clients, one or more of his former law partners, and both of his former spouses. The debts resulted from, among other things, unpaid civil judgments, defaulted personal loans, and child and spousal support in arrears. The Government intends for the evidence of these debts to be presented principally through documentary evidence, along with brief testimony from two witnesses: (1) a lay witness who assisted the defendant with managing his finances, and (2) a law enforcement witness who may present one or more summary charts, including regarding financial records.

[Tipperary]

4. Where are all his du supporters?

I remember quite a few who were gung-ho for that con man to run for president.