Adult-film star Stormy Daniels said Monday that she was “saddened but not shocked” at charges brought against her former attorney, Michael Avenatti.
“Knowing what I know now about Michael Avenatti, I am saddened but not shocked by news reports that he has been criminally charged today,” Daniels said in a statement.
“I made the decision more than a month ago to terminate Michael’s services after discovering that he had dealt with me extremely dishonestly and there will be more announcements to come,” she added. “I ask that the media respect my decision to withhold further public comment regarding Mr. Avenatti at this time.”
{mosads}Federal prosecutors in New York and California charged Avenatti, who has reportedly been arrested, with bank fraud and extortion on Monday.
New York prosecutors claim Avenatti threatened to harm Nike using his public profile unless the apparel company paid him $10 million.
California prosecutors, meanwhile, alleged Avenatti embezzled a client’s money to pay for his own debts and expenses.
Avenatti had represented Daniels in lawsuits that she filed against President Trump and Michael Cohen, the president’s former attorney.
Daniels sued to void a nondisclosure agreement stemming from an alleged 2006 affair with the president. Daniels was paid ahead of the 2016 election to keep quiet about the affair. A judge threw out her lawsuit this month, ruling that it was irrelevant because she had not been held to the terms of the agreement.
Daniels and Avenatti parted ways earlier this month, but neither made the reasons for the separation public.