NEW YORK _ Michael Avenatti betrayed his client and then tried to shake down Nike to cover his mounting debts, a prosecutor said Tuesday during closing arguments.
Avenatti, who became famous by representing porn star Stormy Daniels in legal battles with President Donald Trump, is accused of demanding more than $20 million from Nike or he'd hold a news conference revealing allegations the company secretly paid college basketball prospects.
Avenatti was representing a prominent youth basketball coach in the Nike talks in March 2019 _ but he kept the client in the dark and went against his wishes to avoid publicity, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said. Avenatti simply saw the coach, Gary Franklin, as a means to repay debts of nearly $11 million, the prosecutor argued.
"That's what this case is about _ a betrayal of trust and a shakedown," Podolsky said.
"This was about getting out from under this debt."
Avenatti was caught on wiretaps demanding Nike hire him for an internal investigation costing more than $20 million. Avenatti also suggested paying $22.5 million to him and the coach to make them "ride off into the sunset."
Podolsky summed up Avenatti's offer as "either hire me for millions or pay me even more."
Franklin testified that Nike executives ordered him to pay the families of prominent basketball players in cash.
"Don't pay him? He takes Franklin's information public. That is a request for a bribe. And it is a crime," Podolsky said.
Avenatti is accused of honest services fraud and extortion. He's separately accused in the same courthouse of swindling Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, out of $300,000 for a book deal. He is also charged in Los Angeles with defrauding clients, lying in bankruptcy proceedings and other financial crimes.
Avenatti's defense will deliver closing remarks to the jury Tuesday the afternoon. They have argued Franklin approved of Avenatti's hardball tactics.
