WASHINGTON—Michael Avenatti, who became famous as the lawyer for Stormy Daniels, said Tuesday that he no longer represents the porn actress who alleged she had an affair with President Donald Trump.
In the last year, the duo rose to become household names, dominating cable news shows for months. Avenatti became Daniels’ top protector and promoter, defending her life choices and job as a porn star.
Avenatti said Tuesday, March 12, that he told Daniels last month he was terminating their agreement and had made the decision after lengthy discussions. He would not provide details.
Please see below statement relating to our representation of Stormy Daniels. pic.twitter.com/RgXd4DXf4X
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 12, 2019
Daniels said in her own post that she’s hired another attorney, Clark Brewster, who will “review all legal matters” that she’s been involved in. Brewster did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
I have retained Clark Brewster as my personal lawyer and have asked him and his firm to review all legal matters involving me. Upon completion of Mr. Brewster’s review and further consultation with me, I anticipate Mr. Brewster will serve as my primary counsel on all legal issues
— Stormy Daniels (@StormyDaniels) March 12, 2019
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, alleged she had an affair with a married Trump in 2006, an accusation the president has denied. She was paid $130,000 in a hush-money deal days before the 2016 presidential election by Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen.
Daniels sued to invalidate the nondisclosure agreement so she could discuss the tryst publicly and Cohen ultimately pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations for arranging the payment to buy Daniels’ silence.
Last week, a federal judge found the agreement wasn’t valid as he tossed out the lawsuit.
(R) Porn actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels exits the Federal Court in Lower Manhattan, NY., on Apr. 16, 2018. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AFP/Getty Images)
Before Avenatti began representing Daniels in February 2018, he was virtually unknown outside of the California legal community.
Avenatti had toyed with a 2020 presidential run, but ultimately ruled that out. Recently he’s been representing women who said they were sexually abused by R&B star R. Kelly.
In November, Daniels told the Daily Beast that Avenatti had filed a defamation case against Trump “against my wishes” and alleged that he refused to give her an accounting of the funds collected by her supporters, would not tell her how the money was spent or how much was left in the crowdsourced legal defense fund.
Days later, she tweeted that they had worked it all out and that the “accounting is on the up and up.”
Avenatti was arrested in November on a felony domestic violence charge in Los Angeles when a woman he was dating said he dragged her across the floor of his apartment after an argument over money. Los Angeles county prosecutors declined to file charges and kicked the case to the city attorney’s office, which also declined to bring charges but said a hearing would be held in the matter.
By Michael Balsamo
