Disgraced TV lawyer Michael Avenatti was convicted in February of stealing almost $300,000 from his former client Stormy Daniels, the porn actress who claims she was paid not to talk about an affair with 45th President Donald Trump, who flatly denied the affair. Now, Avenatti has been sentenced to four years for that crime.
Avenatti told the court that he would be a branded man after his crime, after previously asking the judge to sentence him remotely. Avenatti is already serving time related to another case.
Avenatti spoke for 12 minutes at the sentencing. According to Fox News, he acknowledged a “series of mistakes” and “poor judgement” that led to his conviction. “I will forever be branded a ‘disgraced lawyer’ and worse,” the disgraced lawyer said.
Avenatti was convicted of one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He faced up to 20 years for wire fraud and a mandatory two year sentence for aggravated identity theft.
Avenatti joins a West Hollywood panel to talk politics in 2018 (Luke Harold / Flickr)
The lawyer that was once a cable TV mainstay is already serving a 30-month sentence related to his failed attempt to extort Nike for $20 million. He told the multinational brand that he would go public with damaging information unless they paid him, reports CNN.
Avenatti is now set for yet another trial in California, this time to face charges alleging that he embezzled $10 million in settlement funds from five or more clients, the outlet reports.
He’s also been hit with tax fraud and bankruptcy fraud charges, and has pleaded not guilty.
The disgraced lawyer will serve his new sentence concurrently with his 30-month sentence, meaning today’s sentencing will place Avenatti behind bars for another two and a half years past his original release date.
Avenatti was once considered the last, best hope of Democrats eager to smear Trump any way possible, with multiple cable news hosts floating the disgraced lawyer as a presidential contender.
CNN’s Brian Stelter was perhaps the most public in his support for Avenatti’s political career. The network had Avenatti on more than 100 times to bash Trump prior to his convictions.
