The evolving relationship between attorneys Michael Avenatti and Michael Cohen seemed to take another turn Thursday morning. Avenatti is in the process of suing Cohen on behalf of Stormy Daniels, but recently discussed the possibility of joining forces as Cohen and his team began speaking out about President Donald Trump. Now things seem to have taken a step back.
Cohen and his lawyer Lanny Davis have been outspoken of late, with Davis saying that Cohen is “now dedicated to telling the truth.” Avenatti pointed out in a tweet that if Cohen really wants the truth to get out there, he should stop trying to make the court shut him up.
If Mr. Cohen & Mr. Davis are all about the truth, why are they seeking to put a gag order in place, delay my clients’ case, and prevent us from taking Mr. Cohen’s deposition and Mr. Trump’s? Why not let us get to the truth? Why not let us disclose the truth to the public? #Basta
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 26, 2018
This in reference to a gag order that Cohen applied for in Daniels’ case against him regarding her hush agreement where she received $130,000 to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump. Back in June, Cohen–via attorney Brent Blakely–requested a restraining order against Avenatti, to keep the media savvy advocate from talking to the press or public about anything involving their case. That request resulted in a heated exchange of court filings as Avenatti pushed back and Blakely hurled insults.
So now that Cohen has apparently decided to talk, why should he care if Avenatti does? That seems to be the crux of Avenatti’s argument now. Avenatti also put pressure on Cohen regarding the stay on their case which has everything put on hold–including any potential deposition of President Trump–as Cohen’s criminal investigation is going on.
“If he is about the truth, then why is he trying to prevent me from taking the depositions, and why is tying to gag me and delay the case?” Avenatti said in an email to Law&Crime. “He is trying to have it both ways.”
Law&Crime reached out to Blakely, as well as to Davis’ representatives, but they did not immediately respond.
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