Avenatti, never really needed to successfully intervene legally, since he has successfully done so publicly. He has cast a deep shade over Cohen’s legal defense and enlightened the public on numerous heretofore unknown pieces of evidence. Was it self-serving? Almost certainly. But he leaves knowing that most of his work here is done.
This is 100% the correct call by Judge Wood. She can’t have a party’s lawyer (and Stormy was seeking to be a “party”) making prejudicial public statements. Avenatti is ok to do what he is doing (unless the Bush Judge before whom his civil case against Cohen in LA orders him to stop, and its much harder to do this in a civil case…) he just can’t be part of a criminal proceeding and do it.
BTB, the same could be said of Rudy Guilliani…
Avenatti got what he wanted out of this. He forced Cohen’s attorneys to admit that tapes exist. I also think his public pressure on the Cohen/Trump teams caused them to back down from working the refs and Judge Wood had more freedom to rule on the law and not think strategically or politically about her decisions in terms of the timeline/challenges etc. He also shamed the WSJ into silence after they tried to go after him.
Avenatti has made a spectacle of himself that would have made BT Barnum blush. I’d have been shocked if the judge allowed him to intervene. Judge’s abhor spectacles in their courtroom.
I think Avenatti helped the SDNY and the Judge. By raising his volume, he put Trump/Cohen on the defensive.
I always assumed it was the threat of criminal charges, the remainder of his life in jail and his family made destitute that put him on the defensive.
And we all know what happens to rats in Cohen’s world.
Trials are spectacles.
All About Trump, All The Time…
I’m old enough to remember “The Dancing Itos”
One of the thing Avenatti has to get through his oversize head is that Michael Cohen, being a rational sort of fellow, has hired top end criminal defense attorneys to represent him. Avenatti is no longer dealing with the clown posse of Trump’s legal team (which, of course, used to include Michael Cohen). That’s why you don’t see any of Cohen’s lawyers on cable shows.
Yes and who can forget that day when Marcia changed her hairstyle?
I try to keep a couple of things in mind here. Avenatti is not exactly a self-effacing kind of guy and though he may be one of the performers in this circus, he does not manage or own the circus. I’m not going to be a “Margaret Dumont” over this.
I agree.
But I’ve known my fair share of flamboyant lawyers. There are plenty more than Avanetti and they tend to show up in criminal defense and other trial practices.
Comes to that - I’ve known my fair share of flamboyant judges.
He also ensured that media stay attuned to Cohen’s criminal trial.
I think he was effective at shining light on Cohen in ways that that will help his client when her civil case resumes. It’s also true that publishing SARs demonstrates he’s a risk to Cohen receiving a fair (criminal) trial. No need to give Cohen’s legal team grounds for appeal or seeking a mistrial.
So trump was yelling about Obama “wiretapping” him…the outrage! And all the while Cohen has been (supposedly) recording all their phone conversations. Kind of funny really…
Next we will be hearing how the Deep State and Obama tricked Cohen to selectively taping only those conversations that make Trump appear like a criminal. And the exonerating ones were burned. Or something such.
Because, only the most ridiculous ideas are worthy of a Trump tweet.
Yes and judge Wood did say if she lets him intervene he’s going to have to be a good boy and play by the rules and lay off the cable news circuit if he comes before her. So she can let him later is she choses to.
Wood didn’t make a call. Avenatti withdrew his motion.
He absolutely has a right…if not a requirement…to intervene if Cohen is releasing communications that are under attorney client privilege. That’s not the main issue at hand of course, but as her current attorney, it falls on him to protect her rights.
What he did accomplish however, is put massive pressure on the Judge if Cohen does start leaking tapes regarding Daniels. Or if he already has.
Not sure he did publish the SARs. Most wouldn’t even know what one is. I’d actually like to get to that point where that dude is convicted and then challenges it on appeal.