Stormy Daniels ‘far angrier’ with Avenatti than Trump

Former adult film star Stormy Daniels said on Tuesday she is “far angrier” with her former attorney, Michael Avenatti, than former President Trump. 

During an appearance NewsNationNow’s “Dan Abrams Live,” Daniels told host Dan Abrams that Avenatti betrayed her “trust” and lied to her face about stealing money from her. 

“Is it a ridiculous question to ask you who you’re angrier at today? Michael Avenatti or Donald Trump?” Abrams asked Daniels. 

“No, not at all. I’m far angrier at Michael Avenatti,” Daniels responded. 

“I only met Trump a handful of times, not even. I didn’t consider him to be a friend,” Daniels said. “I didn’t have private conversations, I didn’t trust him, and he certainly didn’t steal from me.”

“Michael Avenatti betrayed my trust in every way possible. He lied to my face. He lied about me. He put me on a stand for five and a half hours and called me names,” she added. 

“Like no, no way, way, way more angry at Michael Avenatti because that’s a personal betrayal. It’s way different.”

Avenatti was found guilty of aggravated identity theft and wire fraud last week in connection with stealing $300,000 from Daniels from an advance for her tell-all book about the affair she says she had with the former president. 

Avenatti was also convicted in 2020 of trying to extort Nike Inc, and was indicted for allegedly lying to the Internal Revenue Service. 

He had previously represented Daniels in her legal battle with Trump and his former personal attorney Michael Cohen, who allegedly payed her $130,000 in hush money days before the 2016 presidential election to remain silent about her affair with Trump.

Avenatti denied that he had committed any wrongdoing in his dealings with Daniels, saying in his closing arguments last week that he was just being paid for his work. A judge approved Avenatti’s request to represent himself during the trial, setting up an unusual scenario in which the attorney cross-examined his former client.

Daniels added that an apology from her former attorney will “probably never” will happen, when asked what she wants to hear from Avenatti during an upcoming sentencing hearing. 

“I want him to admit that he took the money and that he lied,” Daniels said. “And he gaslighted me and played games, and then tried to shame me by, like, asking for these mental health records that don’t exist, by trying to paint me in a bad light.”