Stormy Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti early Monday called President Donald Trump and his personal lawyer Michael Cohen "pathetic" and claimed they are "in full panic mode" as they have chosen to respond to criticism indirectly.
"How do we know that Mr. Cohen and Mr. Trump are in full panic mode?" Avenatti tweeted. "Because they have now called in the propaganda machine and people masquerading as journalists to do their dirty work for them. Why can't they handle us directly? I thought they were tough guys? #pathetic #basta."
Avenatti has been outspoken in bashing Trump and Cohen on Twitter, but Cohen and the president, who is known to use the social media platform to slam his opponents, have not fired back at Avenatti in the same way. The president has also shown uncharacteristic restraint in comments on Daniels, who alleges she had an affair with Trump and has sued him and Cohen on matters around a nondisclosure agreement she said she was forced to sign for hush money.
The idea that Trump and Cohen are planting their attacks has been raised before.
Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel earlier this month after Cohen's attorneys were forced to reveal Fox News host Sean Hannity was Cohen's mystery third client, called Hannity a "chief propaganda guy for Trump's legal team."
Unlike Trump and Cohen, Avenatti has made numerous television appearances with fiery allegations about Trump and Cohen. On Monday morning, Avenatti defended his frequent appearances on air.
"To those that are critical of the number of my TV appearances, note: 1. As soon as things stop happening in the highly active cases, I will stop appearing; 2. I accept only 30% of my invites and 3. Don't watch if you don't like it (minority). #basta," he tweeted.
Avenatti also stood up for Daniels and her profession as an adult film actress, tweeting, "let he or she who has NEVER voluntarily viewed ANY form of pornography or gone to a strip club or burlesque show throw as many stones as they wish."
Uncommon Knowledge
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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
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