Trump is on trial in NYC over an alleged $130,000 payment to Daniels to keep her quiet during the 2016 election — which he has denied.
On Thursday night, Avenatti tweeted, “Keith Davidson is lying. After I confronted her w/ her own text msgs, Daniels admitted to me in early 2019 that she & Davidson had extorted Trump in Oct. 2016 – it was a shakedown. This was one of the many reasons I fired her as a client in Feb. 2019.”
Mediaite reports:
Davidson testified in court on Thursday with his version of the events surrounding the supposed “hush money” payment Trump allegedly made to Daniels in an effort to keep her from speaking out about their alleged affair.
Davidson told prosecutor Joshua Steinglass that he worked out the “hush money” deal with Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen just days before the election in 2016, but claimed Trump never signed the paperwork.
According to Davidson, the paperwork included an “unenforceable” $1 million penalty for breaching the agreement.
Speaking to the New York Post from jail earlier this month, Avenatti said he is in contact with Trump’s legal team and was willing to speak out against his former client.
Avenatti is currently being held at Terminal Island, a minimum-security federal prison in Los Angeles, serving a 19-year sentence for a slate of federal crimes that include extortion, tax evasion, fraud, and embezzlement.
“I’d be more than happy to testify, I don’t know that I will be called to testify, but I have been in touch with Trump’s defense for the better part of year,” Avenatti said.
The Post reports that Avenatti would not provide any additional details about the discussion, but an unnamed source “close to Trump” confirmed that the discussions are taking place.
Avenatti used to be one of Trump’s loudest critics, but he has seemingly dramatically changed his position.
“There’s no question [the trial] is politically motivated because they’re concerned that he may be reelected,” Avenatti told the newspaper. “If the defendant was anyone other than Donald Trump, this case would not have been brought at this time, and for the government to attempt to bring this case and convict him in an effort to prevent tens of millions of people from voting for him, I think it’s just flat out wrong, and atrocious.”
“I’m really bothered by the fact that Trump, in my view, has been targeted. Four cases is just over the top and I think there’s a significant chance that this is going to all backfire and is going to propel him to the White House,” Avenatti added.
The former lawyer continued, “Depending on what happens, this could constitute pouring jet fuel on his campaign.”
“Stormy Daniels is going to say whatever she believes is going to assist Stormy Daniels and putting more money in her pocket,” Avenatti said. “If Stormy Daniels lips are moving, she’s lying for money.”
Avenatti explained that he feels like he and Trump have both been targeted by politically motivated prosecutions.
“I think that we were both targeted by the justice system,” Avenatti said. “There’s a lot of people on the left that were very concerned about my potential rise within the Democratic Party and my potential rise in Democratic politics. And the fact that I was not someone that was easily controlled.”
The imprisoned former lawyer also claimed he is not fishing for a pardon in case Trump wins a second term.
“I’m not saying any of this because I’m seeking a pardon,” Avenatti told The Post. “I wish I would have never met Stormy Daniels. I should have left her where I found her.”
via thegatewaypundit