I'm kind of tired of Michael Avenatti. IMO his fifteen minutes of fame are up

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

and it's time for him to go back to his office and do some actual law. He was on LO'D's show just now griping quite indignantly about how Lanny Davis was just Cohen's mouthpiece, trying to convince the public that Michael Cohen isn't such a bad guy but is just a victim. He was all in a snit because Cohen is a criminal and he isn't entitled to have a lawyer who is acting as a PR guy go on TV and try to uphold his reputation.

Uhhh.... excuse me, Michael, but what the hell have you been doing for your client for the last few months that's any different? Yes, Cohen is not a good guy and he's evidently up to his ears in some of Trump's dirty deals, but (1) he hasn't been charged with anything yet, though he probably will be at some point; but until he is either tried or pleads guilty he has the same right to the presumption of innocence and any other citizen, and (2) he also has just as much right as anyone else to have a lawyer (or a PR flack) speak on his behalf through the media. For Avenatti to have a hissy fit about Davis' actions on behalf of Cohen is pretty hypocritical, considering.

[oberliner]

1. What was the point of him going on MSNBC and trashing Lanny Davis tonight?

[manor321]

7. Telling the truth?

Lanny is an asshole. Lanny also fucked up by not releasing a transcript so he could set the story line.

[oberliner]

11. Lanny is an asshole?

What the hell?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

25. Lanny Davis is an old Clinton hand from way back.

I don't know if that makes him an asshole. I do know he has a reputation as a first-rate lawyer.

[kcr]

26. I agree

I was afraid he's completely fucked the whole thing up.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. I don't know. He's got a bug up his butt about Cohen,

his adversary in the Stormy Daniels case. It just seemed to me his rant about Davis was over the top, considering what a publicity hound Avenatti has been.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

56. Seriously, don't get it either.

[cynatnite]

2. I don't pay him much attention...

He's probably getting a lot of business out the appearances. I don't care either way.

[Loki Liesmith]

3. You didn't hire him

So I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be interested in obliging you in this.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Am I not entitled to post an opinion on an internet message board?

Isn't that what DU is for? I'm sure he couldn't care less about my opinion but I get to have and express it anyhow.

[manor321]

4. Seriously. What the hell?

Avenatti is a fighter, telling it like it is. His take on Lanny is very accurate.

[happy feet]

5. Go, Michael Avenatti, Go!

He's been proved right so far, so good. He also knows how to cut to the chase and troll Trump et al. Leave him be.

[manor321]

8. Exactly

So tired of these chickenshits who run every time a real fighter shows up.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. It's possible to be "a real fighter" without criticizing another lawyer

for doing exactly what he's been doing for his client for months.

[blue cat]

57. He has no obligation to Cohen.

And I support his fight to remove trump from office.

[hlthe2b]

10. I honestly don't know why some get so upset about Avenatti doing what Avenatti does

on behalf of his client.

Heavens, it seems some have more scorn for him than Rudy G or any of the rest of the cabal.

He IS a MEDIA lawyer. Does that mean he isn't a good lawyer? Not in my opinion. Different skill sets for different settings. He had an agenda tonight--to interrupt the attempt to paint Cohen as a victim. To do otherwise is not helpful for his own client. So, whether it seems hypocritical or not, that is his job.

However, I have benefit of having read several articles on his other cases, as well as his work with the separated immigrant children, so I guess that may have brought a more balanced perspective to my view of him..

[oberliner]

15. You are correct to point out that Avenatti's goal is to get money for his client

People who think it's something other than that are misguided.

[shanny]

33. Avenatti's goal is to advocate for his client

in order to get what his client wants. Personally, I think his client wants to ruin tRump, the asshole who threatened her and her family (through his goons). If it was just about money it wouldn't be fought out in public: who's going to pay a bunch of money for a story everyone knows already?

This is WAY more personal than that. This is vengeful, and good for her!

[oberliner]

47. Fighting it out in public raises her profile (or at least keeps her name out there)

She has made a lot of money from the attention, appearing on SNL/Jimmy Kimmel - going on "Make America Horny Again" tours, charging more for appearances, deals for films. She is essentially the most famous porn star in the world as a result of this publicity. I think she is very pleased with Avenatti and has cashed in substantially on all of this (as is her right).

[brooklynite]

12. Please share with us your legal expertise...

...and inform us of what's going on with the Stormy Daniels' lawsuit that requires his immediate attention.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

19. I am a lawyer, though retired now.

And I've been following the case fairly closely. For example: Avenatti has lost unnecessary motions (like one objecting to a delay in the CA case for no particular reason), and trying to intervene in the SDNY action because he claimed it was so important to be able to review or suppress documents regarding Daniels, and then withdrawing when the judge told him he had the choice of intervening or commenting on the case on TV (because of NY's attorneys' rules of conduct). He chose TV.

I'm glad Avenatti brought some of this stuff about Trump to light, but I don't consider him to be a hero.

[JenniferJuniper]

29. This.

And wasn't he just recently saying HE might be willing to represent Cohen?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

30. Yes, he did say that - even though the conflict of interest

is screamingly obvious and the rules of professional conduct would almost certainly prohibit that representation.

[shanny]

34. uh, he discussed the extremely tight parameters of what would be required

to work with Cohen, did you miss it?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

35. No, I heard it.

The problem is that those requirements would be almost impossible to overcome.

Representing both Daniels and Cohen may violate California's rule of professional conduct and poses "a huge conflict" for Avenatti, who is accredited by the California State Bar, according to attorney Mark Wilson of California-based law firm Klein and Wilson.

"A lawyer cannot represent clients that are in conflict unless he gets a conflict waiver from them," Wilson said to Business Insider. "He has to tell them the potential consequences down the road, and that they are in full understanding of what they are getting into."

"It's possible he could do it, Wilson added. "But it is, in my opinion, a hopeless conflict of interest, one that most lawyers would never do because you're risking so much."

Daniels' previous statements against Cohen also suggests she is unlikely to sign a conflict waiver. In April, she described Cohen as someone who "played by ... no rules at all" and "acted like he is above the law."

https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-avenatti-represent-cohen-trump-stormy-daniels-conflict-of-interest-2018-7

[shanny]

36. If they are impossible to overcome

I for one would assume that they would not be overcome. So the question as to whether Avenatti would represent Cohen is moot, and criticism based on that hypothetical pointless.

otoh if the situation on the ground changes, and difficulties can be overcome, and the client agrees....what would be the problem, exactly?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

31. And here's a much more detailed discussion by another DUer:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210756832

[USALiberal]

13. LOL, THAT is what your tired of? nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

20. Among other things.

I'm also tired of Kars for Kids radio ads, mosquitoes, and everything about Donald Trump. I can be tired of any damn thing I want to be tired of. Also, it's "you're," not "your."

[shraby]

16. Personally, I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

He is on the right side of the coin. More power to him.

[brush]

38. Exactly. He was just on Don Lemon/CNN and called out Cohen...

and trump for conspiring on the Cohen tape to commit bank fraud, wire fraud and campaign finance violations.

What's not to like about that? We need this kind of outspoken truthsayer in the fight against trump.

What is wrong with people?

This guy is on our side, he's good at his job and with the media—no need to be envious.

Ghouliani is the one we should be tired of.

[Corvo Bianco]

17. He has been driving me nuts since his second week

Into the stormy saga.

When he helps detained children he counts as a hero to me. Full support if he can do more good and less gloating.

[sarah FAILIN]

32. "More good and less gloating"

That is what I want to see too.

[dlk]

18. Avenatti is the Quintessential Trial Lawyer

Love him or not, he’s emminently qualified to get the job done in the courtroom arena.

[oberliner]

21. The job being getting money for Stormy Daniels

[hlthe2b]

42. Nah.. money is not the issue now--if it EVER was.

Granted her career is likely benefiting greatly from the "exposure", but there is clearly a far broader intent motivating her.

[oberliner]

44. Of course it is

She went on a "Make America Horny Tour" for months and has raised her prices substantially. This has been (and continues to be) a huge windfall for her. She is basically the most well-known porn star in the world right now and she is cashing in on that (which is her right).

[hlthe2b]

45. Boy,you just skipped right over my post not comprehending what I just said.

When posters do that, I no longer engage.

[oberliner]

48. You wrote that "money is not the issue" - I am disputing that

With all due respect, I responded directly to what you posted and did so respectfully. I don't understand what you are objecting to. It's fine if we disagree on motives. I just tried to provide evidence showing that money is the primary motivating factor here for Daniels. At least that is how it looks to me. I see no evidence of any "broader intent" than that.

[hlthe2b]

49. I WROTE: "Granted her career is likely benefiting greatly from the "exposure", but there is clearly

a far broader intent motivating her.

Is she benefitting, yes. But her court strategy (and Avenatti's media approach) clearly shows there is more than money motivating her.

[oberliner]

50. OK - fair enough

Perhaps I am just being cynical.

[hlthe2b]

54. I understand...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

23. I have known many trial lawyers. I was one for awhile. Most of them stay out of the limelight

and expend their energy on the demanding, time-consuming work involved in preparing for a trial.

[hlthe2b]

43. Old paradigm that fails against a media monster like Trump

I'm glad some attorneys taking on Trump have learned that. Trump manipulates the media and to not use that tool to fight back is simply fool-hardy. Stormy Daniels knows that and Avenatti sure as hell knows that (as does Lanny Davis)

[oasis]

22. The media went to the bullpen for Mike much too often.

His fastball has gone bye bye.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

24. Yep.

[SCantiGOP]

27. Agree with the OP

[Demonaut]

28. gimme some more Michael Avenatti, he's awesome

[HipChick]

37. Yup...There is no more normal...

Fight outside the box..

[redstateblues]

39. Any junkyard dog working to bring down Trump is ok with me

Glad he’s on our side

[BannonsLiver]

40. Lanny has produced a tape with Drumpfs voice on it.

So if you boil it down to its most basic level, it’s Davis 1, Avennati 0.

Avennati has done pretty well but lately it’s been more blow than go. Advantage Davis in this pissing contest.

[Raine]

41. Agree nt

[NewJeffCT]

46. Like him or not, Avenatti has a proven ability to get on air

He probably gets more airtime than Schumer, Pelosi, Durbin and Hoyer combined.

As extremely qualified as she was, Hillary Clinton did not get much airtime for several months in 2016 - the media was too busy wringing their hands over the latest Trump tweet or outrageous statement or latest huge Trump scandal that lasted only 24 hours until the next one. Heck, even when very popular president Obama went out and campaigned for Clinton, he did not get much airtime.

Who among Democrats has the ability to get on air regularly and be a counterpoint to Trump?

[Squinch]

52. At a time when the media airs Democrats' voices HALF as often as republicans'.

[Squinch]

51. He gets press for our side of issues, and he gets lots of it. I wish him great success.

[snowybirdie]

53. A few weeks ago

he claimed to be taking up the cause of separated families. What's he doing on that?

[PJMcK]

55. Mr. Avenatti has been a useful counterweight to the RW media

If he offends you, change channels. Better yet, log onto DU and post some more of your thoughts. I enjoy reading them.

The legal system is adversarial by design. Opposing lawyers are modern day gladiators.

In any event, Mr. Avenatti may be a bit of a PR hog but so what? He's been putting a lot of pressure on Trump & Co. which is all good to me. He's got some very good information and he's playing a long game by holding back and making his reveals in the legal system. It's smart and will keep Trump off-balance.

[Roland99]

58. Lanny is the defendant's lawyer. He's gonna day whatever he needs to

But that doesn’t make it truthful

Avenatti likes the attention but he seems to have a better handle on things re: Cohen than anyone else

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

59. I've felt this way for several months.

Great lawyer, but, getting long in the tooth. What's he done lately except be on tv? Big promises what 6 months ago? It's all just a side-show. Tired of the morass this country is in. No end in sight. Heat and rain ripping through the country, all the things that make living everyday hard enough as it is, then this 19 month slow motion car accident of a president. Not doing ANYTHING to make life better for anyone under a million dollars a year.

[Hokie]

60. I came to the conclusion that Avenatti was a useful idiot months ago

I think he serves a purpose. He at least gets lots of air time. There is no way I would want to be his client though.