Prosecutor: Michael Avenatti saw dollar signs in Nike fraud

NEW YORK (AP) — A prosecutor kicked off opening statements at the attempted extortion trial of Michael Avenatti on Wednesday by saying the deep-in-debt California lawyer used the “modern weapon” of a big social media following and clout as a television program guest to try to extort millions of dollars from Nike.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Sobelman told jurors in Manhattan that the lawyer, who gained fame by representing porn star Stormy Daniels in lawsuits against President Donald Trump, went to Nike after an amateur coach who felt cheated by the sportswear giant sought his help.

“He sold out his client and then tried to harm a major company,” Sobelman told jurors.

The prosecutor said Avenatti used “a weapon, a modern weapon” to try to force the company to pay him up to $25 million. That weapon, Sobelman said, was Avenatti's large social media following and access to television shows.

“When he looked at the coach, he did not see a client to help," the prosecutor said. “He saw dollar signs for himself.”

Defense attorney Howard Srebnick told jurors that Avenatti's negotiations with Nike were “not extortion.”

Avenatti has pleaded not guilty to trying to extort Oregon-based Nike in March 2019 by threatening to go public with evidence that the shoemaker had paid off the families of highly ranked high school basketball prospects. The trial is expected to last about 2 1/2 weeks.

He also faces an April trial in New York on charges that he cheated Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, of proceeds of a book deal and a May trial in Los Angeles on charges that he ripped off clients and others for millions of dollars.

He has denied all charges and maintained that he was targeted by the Trump administration after clashing with the president...