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Stormy Daniels hires new lawyer after Avenatti severs ties

by Michael Burke 03/12/19 02:58 PM CDT

Attorney Michael Avenatti announced Tuesday that he is no longer representing adult-film star Stormy Daniels, who said she has hired a new lawyer.

Avenatti said in a statement posted to Twitter that he is terminating his legal representation of Daniels “for various reasons that we cannot disclose publicly,” adding that he informed Daniels of the decision last month.

{mosads}“On February 19, we informed Stormy Daniels in writing that we were terminating our legal representation of her for various reasons that we cannot disclose publicly due to attorney-client privilege,” Avenatti said.

“This was not a decision we made lightly and it came only after lengthy discussion, thought and deliberation, as well as consultation with other professionals,” he added. “We wish Stormy all the best.”

Daniels said Tuesday that she has retained Clark Brewster as her new attorney.

“I have retained Clark Brewster as my personal lawyer and have asked him and his firm to review all legal matters involving me. Upon completion of Mr. Brewster’s review and further consultation with me, I anticipate Mr. Brewster will serve as my primary counsel on all legal issues,” she tweeted.

Avenatti represented Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, in lawsuits that she filed against President Trump and Michael Cohen, the former personal attorney to Trump.

Daniels sued Trump and Cohen to void a nondisclosure agreement stemming from an alleged 2006 affair between Daniels and the president. Daniels was paid ahead of the 2016 election to keep quiet about the affair. A judge threw out the lawsuit this month, ruling that it was irrelevant because she had not been held to the terms of the agreement.

Daniels also filed a defamation suit against both men. That lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge in October.