Michael Avenatti, the former attorney for adult film actress Stormy Daniels, has criticized the case against ex-President Donald Trump led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Avenatti, currently serving a 19-year sentence for crimes including extortion, tax evasion, fraud, and embezzlement, expressed his willingness to testify in Trump's case during a phone-in on Fox's "Hannity" show.
Avenatti, who has been in contact with Trump's defense team, was questioned by host Sean Hannity about his defense of Trump in Bragg's case. Hannity sought Avenatti's legal perspective on the case, which some experts have criticized for its alleged flaws.
"The case is grossly unfair, Sean," Avenatti said. "What is happening right now to President Trump and let me be clear, I disagree with President Trump on about 95% of the issues at a minimum. But one thing he and I agree on, and that is that the politicization of these cases, and this case in particular, is gross, its uncalled for, and its flat-out wrong."
Avenatti went on to argue that the case against Trump was an attempt to deprive millions of Americans of their preferred presidential candidate. He pointed out that Trump has been indicted in four cases across the East Coast, a situation he compared to the prosecution of serial killers. "The timing is wrong, the case is wrong, and hes not receiving due process," Avenatti stated.
Despite his past opposition to Trump, including representing Daniels in a case against the former president and considering a Democratic challenge to Trump in the 2020 election, Avenatti's stance on the cases against Trump appears to have shifted. Hannity questioned whether this change was due to Avenatti's recent experiences with the justice system.
"Ive learned a lot over the last five to six years, Sean," Avenatti responded. "Ive been a product of the system, if you will. Ive been ground through the system, fighting three cases at one time. Ive learned a lot about the media. Ive learned a lot about what its like when the government comes for you when youre targeted. Ive learned a lot about what it means to really get due process or to be deprived of due process."
Avenatti went on to say that his experiences had led to significant personal growth and learning. "Thats why I am saying what Im saying now and I firmly believe it," he said.
Hannity then asked Avenatti how he would handle potential attempts by the prosecution to impeach him as a witness, given his recent legal troubles. "Id handle it directly. Id handle it truthfully. And I can promise you that Id be a hell of a lot better witness than Michael Cohen could ever hope to be," Avenatti replied.
Trump's trial in New York, which began with jury selection on April 15, involves 34 felony counts related to alleged falsified business records connected to payments made to Daniels. The jury, composed of twelve people, was selected nearly three days later. Details about the jurors' occupations and preferences were disclosed during questioning, but no physical descriptions or information about their employers were provided, as per the request of presiding Judge Juan Merchant.
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