Stormy Daniels ex attorney Michael Avenatti facing more charges

Federal prosecutors are expected to charge Michael Avenatti with additional financial crimes on Wednesday, according to reports.

The controversial former lawyer of Stormy Daniels, 48, who set the political stage for the adult film actress's crusade against Trump, will be accused of misappropriating funds that were supposed to be paid his client, ABC News have reported.

Avenatti, whose star rose alongside Daniels', briefly flirted with joining the Democratic primary for president in 2020, but was arrested by the FBI and charged with embezzlement, wire, bank and bankruptcy fraud as well as tax-related charges.

The controversial former lawyer of Stormy Daniels, Michael Avenatti

Stormy Daniels,

The controversial former lawyer of Stormy Daniels, Michael Avenatti (pictured, who set the political stage for the adult film actress's crusade against Trump, will be accused of misappropriating money that was supposed to be paid his client, media outlets have reported

The new charges are to be filed by federal prosecutors in Manhattan who have already accused Avenatti of extortion in a case involving the sports brand Nike. 

On Wednesday, Avenatti told ABC News that 'No monies relating to Daniels were ever misappropriated or mishandled.'

'She received millions of dollars worth of legal services and we expended huge sums in expenses.

'She directly paid only $100.00 for all that she received.'

The remarks followed a Tuesday Twitter post where he said he expected these charges to be applied and looked forward to clearing his name in court.

He wrote:  'I expect an indictment to issue from SDNY in the next 48 hrs charging me in connection with my arrest in March,' the Tweet said. 

'I intend on fighting these bogus/legally baseless allegations, and will plead not guilty to ALL CHARGES. I look forward to the trial where I can begin to clear my name.'

Previously

News of prosecutors’ inquiry into his dealings with Daniels marks another blow for the attorney, after federal prosecutors on both coasts unsealed charges against him.

Avenatti was indicted on separate charges unrelated to Daniels in April on 36 counts in California, including wire and bank fraud. His trial is scheduled to start June 25.

Prosecutors said Avenatti embezzled settlement funds and proceeds from other matters he handled for five clients and doled out small portions, sometimes labeling them as advances to prevent thefts from being discovered.

One of the alleged victims is Geoffrey Ernest Johnson, a mentally ill paraplegic who won a $4million settlement from Los Angeles County in 2015 stemming from his jailhouse suicide attempts.

Prosecutors said Avenatti hid the settlement from him for years and spent the money himself on his coffee business, Global Baristas US, and race car team.

A grand jury indictment claimed that in 2017, Avenatti received $2.75million in a separate case but hid that from his client too. 

The next day, he allegedly spent $2.5million of the money on a private

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