Stormy Daniels’ attorney, Michael Avenatti, is going on the offensive before President Donald Trump has a chance to claim a victory in the “pay-for-play” scandal the President has been largely ignoring in recent weeks.
President Trump will likely, according to Avenatti, attempt to claim a victory if his attempt to collect attorney’s fees from Avenatti’s recent appeal is successful.
In his tweet, Avenatti told his followers that the fees will be “dwarfed” by the fees Trump and Cohen will be forced to pay “in connection with the NDA case.”
I spoke to Avenatti following his tweet and he said the court will likely award his client “over $1 million net” following a final decision.
Here’s Avenatti’s full tweet regarding the potential attorney fees:
Be clear – even assuming Trump is owed attys fees from the defamation case (if he wins the appeal), they will be dwarfed by the fees he and Cohen will be required to pay in connection with the NDA case. Not even close. Yet more “winning” from Trump.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) October 16, 2018
Shortly after his tweet, Avenatti shared the notice of appeal he filed with the 9th Circuit Court.
Here is the Notice of Appeal we just filed with the Ninth Circuit relating to the defamation claim against Trump. His record before the Ninth Circuit has been anything but good. #Basta pic.twitter.com/SK8QdycoUW
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) October 16, 2018
The 9th Circuit Court has, indeed, been a thorn in President Trump’s side. The California-based court has routinely fought back against Trump’s illegal executive orders, leading to public scorn from the 45th POTUS.
You may recall that it was the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that ruled Trump had exceeded his authority when ordering that more than 150 million nationals of predominantly Muslim countries be barred from entering the United States.
The maneuver by the veteran attorney places him on the offensive against Trump. Avenatti has proven in recent months that he understands the importance of social media messaging. As an outspoke critic and opponent to President Trump and a potential 2020 Presidential candidate, Avenatti has riled his base while proving repeatedly that his predictions are more accurate than his opponents.
If this prediction from Avenatti is correct, the President will be signing a seven-figure check that will likely lead the President to more viciously attack one of the biggest public thorns in his side.
For his part, Avenatti is welcoming the chance to engage with Trump on a level most potential Democratic Presidential opponents in 2020 are likely unwilling to attempt.
This republic will not be saved by engaging in the kinder, gentler, elitist ways of the past. Been there, done that. If we have to climb down into the gutter to engage Trump because that is where he thrives, so be it. We no longer have the luxury of turning the other cheek.#Basta
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) October 15, 2018
Avenatti then added:
And to be clear, there is a difference between how you campaign and how you govern. They are not the same as I made clear during my VF interview last week with @emilyjanefox. One of the problems with Trump is that he still thinks he is in a divisive campaign.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) October 15, 2018
And now we wait and see if yet another one of Avenatti’s predictions about President Trump come true. Given his track record, I wouldn’t bet against him.