Grownup movie actress Stormy Daniels attends the opening of the grownup leisure truthful 'Venus' in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018. (AP Picture/Markus Schreiber)
NEW YORK --
Lawyer Michael Avenatti on Friday sought to undermine the credibility of porn star Stormy Daniels, the U.S. authorities's star witness towards him at his fraud trial, by difficult her perception in paranormal exercise and professed capability to talk with lifeless folks.
In 5 hours of cross-examining his former shopper, Avenatti tried to undercut the federal government's declare that he had embezzled almost $300,000 from Daniels, who he represented in lawsuits towards former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Avenatti, 50, has pleaded not responsible to fraud and id theft, and has portrayed his dispute with Daniels as a disagreement over authorized charges. If convicted, he faces a most penalty of twenty-two years in jail.
Daniels had described herself in testimony as an actress, author and director engaged on a documentary-style TV present, "Spooky Babes," the place she and others investigated paranormal exercise.
"How do you communicate with the lifeless?" Avenatti requested Daniels on the fifth day of his trial.
"I do not know, it simply occurs generally," the 42-year-old answered, including that she used "playing cards" and "meditation" and generally recorded the conversations.
Daniels additionally mentioned she thought of herself a "medium" who may talk with nonliving spirits, and mentioned "sure" when Avenatti requested if she had skilled "poltergeist phenomenon."
The exchanges got here after Daniels testified on Thursday that Avenatti "stole from me" by diverting $300,000 from her e book contract to an account of his personal.
Avenatti rose to fame in 2018 when Daniels, whose actual title is Stephanie Clifford, employed him to assist her get out of a nondisclosure settlement with Trump.
Daniels is thought for receiving $130,000 in hush cash from former Trump private lawyer Michael Cohen to maintain quiet earlier than the 2016 election about sexual encounters she mentioned she had with Trump. The previous president has denied having intercourse with Daniels.
AVENATTI MAY TESTIFY
After jurors left the courtroom on Friday, Assistant U.S. Lawyer Robert Sobelman mentioned the prosecution supposed to relaxation its case on Monday, and Avenatti mentioned he was "strongly leaning in favor" of testifying in his personal defence.
Avenatti took over his defence on Tuesday from two federal public defenders, citing a "breakdown" of their relationship. These attorneys stay on the case as "standby" counsel.
U.S. District Choose Jesse Furman, who presides over the case, mentioned that ought to Avenatti determine to testify, he may write out questions for a type of attorneys to learn. Avenatti mentioned that will be his most well-liked strategy.
It's dangerous for prison defendants to testify in their very own defence, as a result of it exposes them to doubtlessly aggressive cross-examination by prosecutors.
Earlier than Daniels testified on Friday, Furman rejected Avenatti's objection to prosecutors' alleged failure to show over some proof.
Avenatti used the identical objection to win a mistrial final August in California, the place he confronted separate fraud adjustments, however Furman mentioned it had no bearing on the Daniels case.
"It is a purple herring, a distraction, smoke and mirrors," Furman mentioned, additionally exterior jurors' presence.
(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Modifying by Noeleen Walder and Jonathan Oatis)
Michael Avenatti arrives to federal courtroom in Manhattan, Jan. 24, 2022, in New York. (AP Picture/John Minchillo)
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