Avenatti disclosed the information at a community forum in West Hollywood, California, but he would not provide additional information.
Asked if he had evidence that the women had relationships with Trump, Avenatti said: “Yes.”
He said he was “not at liberty to share” the evidence because he didn’t have permission from his clients to disclose specifics. But Avenatti said the women, who contacted him months ago, were “paid hush money prior to the 2016 election.”
He called on Trump and his former longtime personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to come forward and disclose information about the women and their supposed relationships with Trump.
“They should release the information to the American people now,” Avenatti said. “Enough with the games.”
Trump’s attorney, Charles Harder, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment late Thursday.
“Last time I checked they weren’t just handing out checks to anyone whether they had a relationship or not,” Avenatti said.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had sex with Trump in 2006, when he was married, but Trump has denied it. Days before the 2016 presidential election, she was paid $130,000 to stay silent in a deal handled by Cohen. She is suing to invalidate the nondisclosure agreement.
Cohen’s attorney, Lanny Davis, would not say if he knew whether Cohen had been involved in any other hush-money deals on behalf of Trump.
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Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak in New York contributed to this report.
Avenatti: 3 women paid ‘hush money’ for Trump relationships
Avenatti disclosed the information at a community forum in West Hollywood, California, but he would not provide additional information.
Asked if he had evidence that the women had relationships with Trump, Avenatti said: “Yes.”
He said he was “not at liberty to share” the evidence because he didn’t have permission from his clients to disclose specifics. But Avenatti said the women, who contacted him months ago, were “paid hush money prior to the 2016 election.”
He called on Trump and his former longtime personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to come forward and disclose information about the women and their supposed relationships with Trump.
“They should release the information to the American people now,” Avenatti said. “Enough with the games.”
Trump’s attorney, Charles Harder, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment late Thursday.
“Last time I checked they weren’t just handing out checks to anyone whether they had a relationship or not,” Avenatti said.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had sex with Trump in 2006, when he was married, but Trump has denied it. Days before the 2016 presidential election, she was paid $130,000 to stay silent in a deal handled by Cohen. She is suing to invalidate the nondisclosure agreement.
Cohen’s attorney, Lanny Davis, would not say if he knew whether Cohen had been involved in any other hush-money deals on behalf of Trump.
___
Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak in New York contributed to this report.
Given Avenatti’s penchant for maximizing publicity opportunities, there has to be a reason why he won’t disclose any additional names. And the most likely reason is that the NDAs are still in effect, because no one has reported on them (Stormy Daniels’ NDA was reported on by the WSJ before she filed her lawsuit asking that it be voided.)
But it does signal to SDNY that they have more witnesses to any potential violation of FEC laws, so while they have NDA’s, they will be pierced by the Feds to investigate potential crimes.
NDAs are, as you point out, probably behind it. But even if not, Avenatti is proving to be almost as gifted at the “stay tuned” strategy that Spankee likes to use. While I sometimes get tired of his game, I must admit that I greatly appreciate the fact that he intentionally leaves Spankee (and others) twisting in the wind, not knowing how bad the next surprise will be…
And by not telling which clients he has, he leaves room for the trump team to make unforced errors. Bet the disclosure ends up coming from guiliani or cohen.
I have to admit to having some Avenatti fatigue once in awhile. But this is nice. And it gives him new opportunity to get under that orange skin a little more and cause a little more irritation.