Michael Avenatti
“When you deliberate… I ask that you send it back and find me not guilty because, ladies and gentlemen, that is exactly what I am,” the fallen lawyer said in his closing arguments.
The lawyer’s cross-examination of the porn star who has accused him of embezzlement focused on her fixation with poltergeists and the paranormal.
A furious Stormy Daniels testified that her former lawyer secretly spent her book money on Ferrari payments.
The California litigator is facing charges that he stole money from the porn actress.
During opening arguments at his fraud trial, prosecutors painted Avenatti as a down-on-his-luck lawyer in need of some quick cash. His defense team argued Stormy actually owed him.
On Tuesday, Judge James V. Selna ruled that federal prosecutors in Santa Ana failed to turn over evidence to Avenatti before trial.
Geoffrey Johnson testified on Thursday that Avenatti got him to sign a glowing testimonial in 2019—a day after Avenatti had been accused of stealing Johnson’s settlement.