Stormy Daniels' attorney Michael Avenatti said he would "absolutely consider" taking President Donald Trump's embattled long-time lawyer Michael Cohen as his client—if Cohen were to "come clean" on what he has on Trump.
Avenatti revealed his willingness to represent Cohen, who ironically arranged a nondisclosure agreement to silence Daniels on her alleged affair with Trump that she is suing over, on Friday hours after it was revealed that Cohen recorded Trump discussing secret payments to a former Playboy model.
The lawyer for Daniels, an adult film star whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, immediately renewed his demand for Cohen to release the "Trump tapes," claiming they relate to her, as well as the former Playboy model Karen McDougal and others.
"I'm not going to say 'no' as it relates to potentially representing Michael Cohen," Avenatti told MSNBC host Ari Melber that night. "If he was prepared to do the right thing and come clean and basically turn state's evidence, I would absolutely consider it in an effort to disclose information and bring the truth to the American people."
Melber asked Avenatti if Cohen was aware of that prior to the television interview. Avenatti declined to answer the question, but said that he ran into Cohen at a restaurant in New York "by sheer happenstance" a few days ago and that the two chatted.
"We had what I would describe as a very positive meeting and I came away from that meeting very encouraged by ultimately how all of this may work out," Avenatti said.
Melber then pointed out that Cohen recently retained Lanny Davis, who served as a special counsel for President Bill Clinton in the 1990s, and asked if Avenatti representing Cohen "would send an even bigger message to Donald Trump."
"Oh I think it would send quite the message," Avenatti said, "And I think it would advance the cause of the American people."
Speculation around Cohen possibly flipping on Trump has emerged since the president has distanced himself from his longtime fixer and refused to help him with legal fees. The FBI raided Cohen's office and home in April and seized documents as part of a criminal investigation into his business deals. The deals apparently include Daniels' $130,000 nondisclosure agreement, raising possible conflicts of interest if Avenatti were indeed to try to take Cohen on as his client.
Avenatti previously alleged that Keith Davidson, a lawyer who previously represented McDougal and Daniels, was conspiring with Cohen against the adult film star.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
A Los Angeles native, Jessica Kwong grew up speaking Spanish, Cantonese and English, in that order. Her journalism career started ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
