Former Stormy Daniels lawyer Michael Avenatti said he expects Donald Trump to be found guilty in Manhattan because he cannot receive a fair trial in prison.
Transcript by Ari Melber via MSNBC/The Beat:
ARI MELBER: Michael, have you had any contact with DA Bragg's office? Specifically, what evidence or logic do you think is wrong with this case?
MICHAEL AVENATTI: Well, I'm going to decline to say whether I've had any contact with the defense or the prosecutor's office. But — but in response to the second part of your question, let me say this. I think this case has a lot of problems. That's not the case anymore. I don't mean to suggest that just because I think Trump will be convicted means he won't be convicted.
MICHAEL AVENATTI: First of all, he's a criminal defendant, and in our society we don't generally believe that criminal defendants are treated fairly. In fact, I believe the number one conviction rate for all criminal defendants is that the deck is decidedly stacked against them. Second, I don't think he will get a fair trial in New York. And to those who actually argue that he could get a fair trial in New York with a New York jury, I'd like to ask you if you're going to go to bed tonight and wake up tomorrow to find out the case is over. Would you think your trial would be fair if you moved to Mississippi or Alabama? And if they're honest, they'll say no. So I don't think he'll get a fair trial in New York.
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But beyond that, I think there are problems with this case. First, I don't know who the speaker's witness will be in the case. This means that every case should have one or two key witnesses to tell the story. My guess is that the DA will potentially use Michael Cohen or Stormy Daniels for that purpose. And I think it has the potential to be a disaster. Michael Cohen is – you know, I've never been a fan of Michael for a lot of reasons. As you know, he is a serial liar. He showed that he cannot tell the truth. As you can see, his legal acumen leaves much to be desired. I mean, I would say that if (inaudible) or Clarence Darrow had an illegitimate child, it certainly wouldn't be someone like Michael Cohen.
video:
Michael Avenatti @AriMelber Thanks to DA Alvin Bragg's silencing lawsuit against former President Trump:
“I think this was the wrong case at the wrong time.”
How to watch @ThebeatwithAri In ~ @MSNBC. pic.twitter.com/Lxc7ElKnyc
— MSNBC Public Relations (@MSNBCPR) April 9, 2024
Considering Avenatti is currently in prison for stealing from customers and attempting to rob Nike, it's pretty funny to see Avenatti questioning someone's character.
Trump will likely be convicted in Manhattan because there is a paper trail, and unlike at other points in his life, Donald Trump has made the mistake of allowing the paper trail to lead directly to him. Trump signed a check in Cohen's office to repay the hush money.
Michael Avenatti has nothing to say about the reliability of the narrator of the events. DA Alvin Bragg was very comprehensive about the hush money case. It is clear that he did not take these accusations lightly.
With Stormy Daniels' hush money scandal soon to return to criminal justice, old faces are reemerging, including Michael Avenatti.
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Jason is the editor-in-chief. He is also a member of the White House Correspondent and Congressional Correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. His graduate studies focused on public policy, specializing in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Political Science Association.