NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Michael Avenatti jumped at the chance to represent porn star Stormy Daniels in 2018, saying he鈥檇 do it for a dollar, another California attorney testified Wednesday at Avenatti's criminal trial.
The testimony by the lawyer, Sean Ernesto Macias, was expected to set the stage for Daniels to take the witness stand on Thursday.
Avenatti took over representation of himself from other lawyers on Tuesday as he asserts his innocence against wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges filed by prosecutors who claim Avenatti cheated Daniels of nearly $300,000 she was owed from a book deal.
Avenatti, 50, denies it, saying it was always understood that he would share in the proceeds of some of Daniels鈥� projects, including the writing of her autobiography, particularly because an agreement the pair signed only required Daniels to pay him $100.
Macias, who peppered his hour of testimony with colorful answers, drew laughter throughout the Manhattan courtroom when he identified Avenatti by saying: 鈥淗e's the handsome fellow with the shaved head.鈥�
But, at other times, he seemed so emotional that he paused before answering to collect himself, saying at one point: 鈥淚 still feel bad for him in a weird way.鈥�
Macias said he'd known Daniels for several years when she reached out to him in 2018 to seek legal representation to change the terms of her $130,000 deal made shortly before the 2016 presidential election to be silent about her claims that she'd had a sexual tryst with then-President Donald Trump a decade earlier. Trump has denied it.
Macias said he was with Avenatti one day when he mentioned that Daniels was 鈥渂lowing up my phone鈥� over the subject.
鈥淚 might be interested in this,鈥� he recalled Avenatti telling him.
He said he believed that Daniels just wanted to alter her deal so she could speak publicly about her encounter with Trump and receive more money, but Avenatti 鈥渨anted to go big鈥� with an appearance on CBS's 鈥�60 Minutes."
鈥淗e told her: 鈥業鈥檒l charge you a dollar,'" Macias recalled.
A prosecutor, Mathew Podolsky, asked Macias if Avenatti thanked him for introducing him to Daniels. The lawyer said Avenatti gave him a Cartier watch in the summer of 2018. But by Labor Day weekend, Avenatti appeared deflated and melancholy at a Las Vegas convention for lawyers.
鈥淗e seemed a little more agitated than he normally was and he seemed a little needy,鈥� Macias said.
鈥淚 said: 鈥榃hat happened to you?鈥欌�� Macias recalled.
Avenatti responded: 鈥淪he's going crazy,鈥� referring to Daniels, Macias said.
He said Avenatti claimed the book publisher hadn't paid her as scheduled on her $800,000 advance, that Daniels was considering speaking publicly about her complaints and 鈥渟he's going to blow this deal up.鈥�
Prosecutors have told jurors that Avenatti was pocketing payments destined for her, funneling some of the money into his law practice's payroll expenses and personal expenses.
鈥淗e wanted me to represent her to sue the book publishing company,鈥� Macias said.
Then, days later, Avenatti showed up at his office saying he was 鈥渏ammed up and needed help鈥� because he was about to be evicted from his law office space and needed help meeting his payroll, he said.
鈥淚 was shocked he needed money,鈥� Macias said, noting that Avenatti was appearing regularly at the time on cable television news programs.
Avenatti said he needed someone to loan him $250,000, Macias said.
Macias said he located a lawyer, Mark Geragos, willing to loan Avenatti that amount.
鈥淗e referred to him as 鈥楨l Presidente鈥� and said, 鈥榃hy not?鈥欌�� Macias said.
Geragos did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
When Avenatti cross examined Macias, he asked him if he'd had alcohol or drugs in the day before his testimony and if he was 鈥渋ncredibly excited鈥� when Avenatti was considering running for president.
Macias recalled that he drank a glass of champagne on Tuesday. And, of the quest for the presidency, he testified: 鈥淵ou wanted me to be chief of staff. I said: 鈥楳ake me ambassador to France. That鈥檇 be awesome!'"
Larry Neumeister, The Associated Press
