It’s been a particularly tumultuous last few weeks for celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti, who rose to national fame by representing porn star Stormy Daniels (the two have since parted ways, and not on good terms) but is now facing two federal lawsuits, one of which involves allegedly attempting to “shake down” one of the most powerful companies in the world, Nike Inc., in meetings caught on tape by the FBI.
So without Daniels and their campaign to finally topple Trump for the #resistance, and with serious federal charges hanging over his head, what is the lawyer who once appeared on CNN 59 times in less than two months doing with all his spare time? Well, online he is repeatedly hammering Nike and Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.
On March 24, FBI Special Agent Christopher Harper submitted a complaint to the Southern District of New York alleging that a few days earlier Avenatti and an unnamed co-conspirator “devised a scheme to extort a company [Nike] by means of an interstate communication by threatening to damage the company’s reputation if the company did not agree to make multi-million dollar payments to Avenatti and [his co-conspirator], and further agree to pay $1.5 million to a client of Avenatti’s.”
In phone calls and meetings recorded by the FBI, Avenatti allegedly threatened Nike that he would release damaging information about an “Adidas-like” scandal involving Nike employees if they did not “retain” him and his co-conspirator for millions of dollars to conduct an unasked-for internal investigation. Avenatti was charged with attempted extortion and various forms of fraud.
Since, the embattled lawyer has been posting tweets intended to damage Nike. “Contrary to Nike’s claims yesterday, they have NOT been cooperating with investigators for over a year,” Avenatti tweeted two days after being arrested and released on $300,000 bond. “Unless you count lying in response to subpoenas and withholding documents as “cooperating.” They are trying to divert attention from their own crimes.” That tweet is one of many the lawyer has since posted.
A few examples of Avenatti’s numerous Nike posts:
Along with steadily swiping at Nike, Avenatti has been lashing out at Donald Trump Jr., apparently prompted, at least in part, by Trump Jr. ripping the lawyer over his failed Nike “shakedown.”
“Fortunately we don’t all grow up with silver spoons in our mouth and a gold toilet under our ass,” Avenatti declares in one post. “If you are so smart and tough, let’s appear together and have a serious discussion about the issues. Bring the brains in the family – obviously not daddy.” In another post, Avenatti says his new enemy’s “greatest two accomplishments during his lifetime are his inclusion in the lucky sperm club and carrying his sister’s puppy purse.”
A few examples of Avenatti’s recent online fixation on Trump Jr:
Over the last few days, Avenatti has also been slamming R.Kelly and his lawyer, as well as “Satan’s Dingleberry,” his nickname for troll Jacob Wohl.