Thread by @KlasfeldReports

Good morning from New York.

Michael Avenatti's federal trial accusing him of defrauding Stormy Daniels is about to begin.

Covering it live for @LawCrimeNews.

Proceedings begin:

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Rohrbach for the government

Avenatti's attorney Robert M. Baum for the defense

Judge Furman notes that the jury is all vaccinated.

AUSA's first line:

"This is a case about a lawyer who stole from his client."

Prosecutors says Avenatti stole money for the "victim's" book deal, referring indirectly to Daniels.

"The defendant stole two of those payments, almost $300,000."

"To do it, the defendant sent a letter to the victim's book agent."

AUSA: "You will learn that the defendant was desperate for money."

AUSA says that Avenatti wasn't entitled to any part of the book deal, except that he would be paid for any help with a percentage "to be agreed upon."

Avenatti said he "wouldn't take a penny," the prosecutor said.

"There is no other written contract."

AUSA: "He was supposed to be her advocate."

"She didn't know that her lawyer had already stolen her money."

AUSA: "Eventually, the lies ran out."

Avenatti is charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

AUSA: "You'll also hear from Ms. Daniels. She will take the stand."

"She will walk you through the text messages between her and the defendant," where he allegedly claimed the agency wasn't paying her.

AUSA on Stormy Daniels:

"She's an entertainer. She's been in adult films, and she's been on shows on paranormal activity."

"This case is not about her job, what she does for money. It's about the fraud that was committed."

Government's opening statement concludes.

Avenatti's lawyer Andrew John Dalack is now up.

"What we have in this case, members of the jury, is a disagreement, a fee dispute, between an attorney and his disgruntled client."

"This case is about Ms. Daniels not wanting to uphold her end of the contract that she signed."

Dalack refers to Daniels as an adult film actress of "moderate notoriety."

Dalack says that the government made it sound as though Daniels had a book deal "in hand."

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, that could not be farther from the truth," Dalack said.

He says that Avenatti helped Daniels achieve her "lifelong dream" of publishing a memoir.

Dalack:

Daniels was "unpredictable" and at time, "uncontrollable."

"You will hear that they struggled to get Ms. Daniels to focus on her obligations."

Dalack: "Mr. Avenatti accomplished what few attorneys in America could."

As anticipated, Dalack invokes Daniels's paranormal beliefs, like claiming that she could see dead people and talking to dolls.

"Members of the jury, I submit talking to dolls might not be unusual. My kids do it all the time, but when the dolls talk back to you, that's unusual."

Witness testimony began with Daniels's literary agent Lucas Janklow.

Janklow reflects on his initial meeting with Avenatti: "He was a folk hero at that point."

The story so far:

https://twitter.com/KlasfeldReports/status/1485633445061607431?s=20

Janklow says Avenatti pressed him to pass on the money "quickly":

“He said, ‘The book is done. Let’s get the money as soon as possible.’”

Avenatti claimed that "She had security worries," according to Janklow.

Janklow testifies that Avenatti didn't talk about his own need for money.

Janklow: "I was instructed by Mr. Avenatti not to discuss finances with her," referring to Stormy Daniels.