Supreme Court rejects appeal from ex- Stormy Daniels lawyer Michael Avenatti on extortion conviction

The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from former attorney Michael Avenatti on Tuesday regarding his 2020 conviction for attempting to extort up to $25 million from Nike, marking one of three cases that led to his incarceration.

Avenatti, once a prominent lawyer known for his involvement in the Stormy Daniels case against former President Donald Trump, received a 2½-year prison sentence following his conviction on charges of attempted extortion and honest-services fraud.

The case stemmed from Avenatti’s threat to disclose alleged evidence of improper payments by Nike to high school basketball players unless the company paid $1.5 million to one of his clients and $15 million to $25 million for an investigation conducted by him and an associate.

Avenatti contended that his discussions with Nike constituted legal settlement negotiations on behalf of his client, a basketball coach affiliated with the Amateur Athletic Union who had made accusations against Nike. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit determined that Avenatti’s actions were primarily motivated by personal gain rather than the interests of his client.

The district judge overseeing the case concluded that Avenatti had exploited his client’s claim to further his own agenda, seeking a substantial financial gain for himself.

Avenatti also challenged the constitutionality of the criminal code used to charge him with honest-services fraud, arguing that it was too vague. However, both the appellate court and the Justice Department upheld the statute, stating that it adequately defines prohibited conduct and does not lead to arbitrary enforcement.

This unsuccessful appeal represents only one aspect of Avenatti’s legal troubles following his involvement in high-profile cases like representing Stormy Daniels. In June 2022, he was sentenced to four years in prison for embezzling book proceeds from Daniels, and six months later, he received an additional 14-year sentence for defrauding clients and evading taxes.