Michael Avenatti Claims That His Prosecution for Extortion and Embezzling From Clients Is Merely a "Vindictive" Persecution Ordered by Trump and Barr

He's previewing a defense I expect we'll see a lot of in the coming months -- Brennan, Clapper, McCabe, Comey et al. can be expected to play to #Woke jurors in this way, if Durham prosecutes them for their attempted (and yet ongoing) coup.

Via John Sexton at Hot Air, Michael Avenatti, if you can believe this, staged a
press conference to get some media attention.

That doesn't sound like the Michael Avenatti I know.

Avenatti's attorney Dean Steward told a judge today that his client "made some very, very powerful enemies" during those heady days, with the "president of the United States" topping the list.

Avenatti has now formally blamed his opposition to Trump for separate indictments in California and New York, where he is accused of defrauding Stormy Daniels and extorting Nike. Steward told U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts today that both cases are vindictive.

"Vindictive?" Batts asked, incredulously.

Appearing taken aback, Batts added later: "This office is not known for being vindictive."

The so-called "Sovereign" District of New York is known for being fiercely independent from Washington....

Steward suggested times have changed during the tenure of U.S. Attorney General William Barr, whom he called a "lapdog" for Trump.

"That may be," Batts replied, before questioning what Barr had to do with the case.

Though Steward did not fully explain his theory in open court, Avenatti took shots at Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman last week with a similar motion in the Nike case.

"Welcome to Russia!" this persecuted man said in his press conference.

So Putin's behind it all. Interesting.

I expect we'll see some rigorous reportage in that direction from The Dispatch.

posted by Ace of Spades at 05:20 PM

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