Michael Avenatti pleads not guilty to federal charges during Santa Ana court appearance
High-profile attorney Michael Avenatti pleaded not guilty Monday, April 29, to federal fraud and embezzlement charges during a brief hearing at the federal courthouse in Santa Ana.
Avenatti – best known for representing porn star Stormy Daniels in her legal battles against President Donald Trump and for his own one-time presidential ambitions – formally denied the charges that were laid out earlier this month in a 36-count grand jury indictment.
Avenatti attended the hearing without the private attorneys who joined him during his last criminal court appearance in Southern California. He initially told the judge he was in the process of “finalizing an agreement with private counsel.” He agreed to allow a federal public defender temporarily represent him.
Asked to enter his plea, Avenatti, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, replied, “Not guilty to all charges.”
Read more: https://www.ocregister.com/2019/04/29/michael-avenatti-pleads-not-guilty-to-federal-charges-during-oc-court-appearance/
