Judge rejects Michael Avenatti's bid to dismiss criminal charge in Nike case

[jberryhill]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/09/michael-avenatti-nike-extortion-case-trial

A US judge on Thursday rejected the celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti’s bid to dismiss a criminal charge that he defrauded a client whom he said knew about improper payments that sportswear giant Nike allegedly made to families of college basketball recruits.

...

Prosecutors accused Avenatti of telling Nike last March he would not publicize his client Gary Franklin’s claims about the payments if the sportswear company would pay Franklin $1.5m, and him up to $25m to conduct an internal inquiry.

They said Avenatti also failed to tell Franklin, who coached a youth basketball team in a Nike-sponsored league, that Nike offered to settle the coach’s claims without paying Avenatti, and instead used those claims to secure riches for himself.

...

Avenatti also faces an 21 April trial in Manhattan for allegedly cheating Daniels out of proceeds from a book contract, and a 19 May trial in Santa Ana, California, for allegedly defrauding other clients and lying to the Internal Revenue Service.

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I'm starting to think he's not going to get many votes in Iowa.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. This trial is coming up on Jan. 21. Do you think there will be a trial, or

will he try for a plea?

[jberryhill]

2. Hmmm....

Okay, I'm Michael Avenatti. I can make a quiet deal in a room with people who know the law, or I can try to impress an audience, I mean, jury, with my good looks and rakish demeanor.....

How to choose.... how to choose...

Will there be cameras and a bank of microphones outside?