Day 4 of Stormy Daniels Defamation Trial
On the fourth day of the Stormy Daniels defamation trial, her former legal counsel, Michael Avenatti, testified against her. Avenatti, who is currently serving a prison sentence for extorting Nike, is accused of misusing Daniels’ funds and exaggerating her claims against Donald Trump.
Avenatti’s Testimony
In his testimony, Avenatti admitted to borrowing $164,000 from Daniels’ book advance account, but claimed he intended to repay it. He also denied exaggerating Daniels’ claims, saying he believed her account of an affair with Trump.
Avenatti’s credibility, however, was called into question when Daniels’ current attorney, Clark Brewster, presented evidence of text messages showing Avenatti bragging about fabricating a story about a Trump aide threatening Daniels.
Daniels’ Rebuttal
Daniels took the stand after Avenatti and refuted his claims. She testified that she never authorized Avenatti to borrow money from her account and that he never repaid her. She also said she felt pressured by Avenatti to exaggerate her claims against Trump.
Impartial Witnesses
The jury also heard from several impartial witnesses, including a former employee of Avenatti’s firm who testified that she witnessed Avenatti withdrawing large sums of money from Daniels’ account. An expert in forensic accounting also testified that there was no evidence to support Avenatti’s claim that he intended to repay Daniels.
Conclusion
The trial is expected to continue for several more days. The jury will ultimately decide whether Avenatti defamed Daniels and whether he is liable for any damages.
- The trial has been closely watched by the media and the public.
- The outcome of the trial could have implications for other defamation cases involving public figures.
- The trial is a reminder of the importance of carefully choosing one’s legal counsel.
Kind regards,
E. Thompson
