February 6, 2025
Disgraced lawyer to face not 1, but 2 arraignments
The rise and fall of celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti Avenatti became a household name thanks in no small part to his endless exposure on CNN and MSNBC
The rise and fall of celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti Avenatti became a household name thanks in no small part to his endless exposure on CNN and MSNBC

Embattled attorney Michael Avenatti will have a busy day in Manhattan federal court Tuesday — but as a defendant, not as counsel.

Avenatti, 49, is scheduled to be arraigned on charges that he tried to extort up to $25 million from athletic apparel giant Nike by threatening to expose claims that the shoemaker paid off high school basketball players to steer them to Nike-sponsored colleges. He also is scheduled to be arraigned on charges that he stole nearly $300,000 from adult film actress Stormy Daniels, the client who rocketed him to national prominence.

In the Nike case, Avenatti is charged with one count of extortion, one count of sending interstate communications with intent to extort and two counts of conspiracy. In the Stormy Daniels case, he is charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted on all counts, Avenatti could face a total of 69 years in prison.

Avenatti repeatedly has denied any wrongdoing and is expected to plead not guilty to all charges. He initially was arrested on March 25 at a New York law firm where he had scheduled a meeting with Nike executives.

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