Michael Avenatti Will Get Taxpayer-Funded Defense in Stormy Daniels Case

Stormy Daniels speaks next to Michael Avenatti outside court in 2018.Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg
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Celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti can no longer afford his defense team in the criminal case accusing him of stealing a book advance from porn star Stormy Daniels when she was his client, a judge ruled.

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman in Manhattan granted his request for a taxpayer-financed public defender and ordered Avenatti to submit an affidavit to the court every four months outlining any changes to his financial condition, citing the lawyer’s claim that he may have access to additional assets in the future.