Trump Foes Turn on Each Other in New Avenatti Criminal Trial

Stormy Daniels says Avenatti stole her book advance and lied
Avenatti says Daniels believes in paranormal, can’t be trusted

Stormy Daniels speaks next to Michael Avenatti outside court in 2018.Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg

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By Erik Larson

January 24, 2022 at 5:09 PM UTC

Updated on

January 24, 2022 at 11:29 PM UTC

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The hot-shot lawyer and the adult-film actress who teamed up in 2018 to sue then-president Donald Trump over a hush-money payment are about to face off against each other in a federal criminal trial in New York.

A grand jury charged Michael Avenatti with wire fraud and identity theft for allegedly stealing the book advance of his former client, Stormy Daniels, and spending it on everything from Starbucks coffee to payments on a Ferrari. The case marked a stunning split for a lawyer-client team whose politically charged suit against Trump launched them into the national spotlight.