Video Credit: Reuters - Politics - Duration: 01:32s - Published
Celebrity lawyer Avenatti sentenced to 30 months
Michael Avenatti was convicted for threatening to expose Nike's alleged corrupt payments to families of college basketball prospects unless it forked over up to $25 million for him and another lawyer to conduct an internal probe.
Michael Avenatti, the brash lawyer who shot to fame representing porn actress Stormy Daniels in lawsuits against then President Donald Trump, was sentenced to 2-1/2 years in prison on Thursday for trying to extort Nike.
U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe in Manhattan said Avenatti "had become drunk on the power of his platform" in betraying his client, a youth basketball coach, in order to obtain riches for himself.
Avenatti was convicted for threatening to expose Nike's alleged corrupt payments to families of college basketball prospects unless it forked over up to $25 million for him and another lawyer to conduct an internal probe.
Recordings showed Avenatti telling Nike lawyers he would "blow the lid" on the sportswear company and wipe $10 billion off its market value unless it bowed to his demands.
Avenatti was also convicted of defrauding the coach, Gary Franklin.
Prosecutors said Avenatti was counting on a big payday to cover his own debts.
Nike has denied wrongdoing.
Before being sentenced, Avenatti got choked up as he admitted to having "lost his way," and apologized to Franklin and others.
The sentencing caps a precipitous downfall for a once-obscure lawyer who in 2018 became a cable news fixture, disparaging then-President Trump and even flirting with a White House run himself - before a swirl of criminal charges ended his legal career.
This Day in History:, Heaven’s Gate Cult
Members Found Dead.
March 26, 1997.
Led by Marshall Applewhite,
39 members of the cult peacefully committed suicide
by drinking a mixture of vodka and phenobarbital.
The disturbing scene was discovered by
police in a mansion in a San Diego suburb.
Clothed in matching Nike sneakers and dark uniforms,
the 21 men and 18 women were were found in several
rooms throughout the mansion.
They were convinced their suicides would free them
from their bodies, allowing them to enter an
alien spacecraft hidden behind the rare Hale-Bopp comet.
The cult advocated sexual abstinence.
Several of the men had undergone
castration surgery, including Applewhite.
None of the 39 bodies showed
any signs of blood or trauma
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 00:47Published
The Football Association and Nike have come under fire for the design of England’s new home shirt, ahead of Euro 2024. The traditional white kit features a St George’s Cross with navy, light blue and purple. Nike say it is “a playful update”, but many fans and politicians have reacted with consternation and anger. Report by Jonesia. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Londoners have expressed mixed opinions after Nike sparked a culture war flare-up by modifying the St George's flag on the collar of the new ÂŁ125 England shirt. Report by Czubalam. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Donald Trump's lawyer has been told by a judge to stop the former president from "cursing audibly" and "shaking his head" during Stormy Daniels' testimony at his.. Sky News
Stormy Daniels is testifying in Donald Trump's hush money trial -- and she says he told her he and his wife, Melania Trump, don't really sleep together ... and.. TMZ.com
Harvey Weinstein’s Rape Conviction , Is Overturned.
New York's Court of Appeals
overturned the movie mogul's 2020 rape conviction by a vote of 4-3 on April 25.
According to the appeals court, trial judge James Burke "prejudiced Weinstein with 'egregious' improper rulings," AP reports. .
For example, he let women bring forth allegations against Weinstein that he wasn't charged with.
The action was an "abuse of judicial discretion," the appeals court said. .
Without question, this is appalling,
shameful, repulsive conduct that
could only diminish defendant’s
character before the jury, New York's Court of Appeals, via AP.
Although this conviction has been overturned, the 72-year-old will remain in prison due to a separate 2022 rape conviction in Los Angeles.
His lawyers have chosen to
appeal that conviction as well. .
Jennifer Bonjean, who helped free Bill Cosby from
prison, issued a statement about the development.
Jennifer Bonjean, who helped free Bill Cosby from
prison, issued a statement about the development.
A jury was told in California that
he was convicted in another
state for rape ... turns out he
shouldn’t have been convicted
and it wasn’t a fair conviction… , Jennifer Bonjean, Harvey Weinstein's attorney, via AP.
It interfered with his
presumption of innocence in
a significant way in California, Jennifer Bonjean, Harvey Weinstein's attorney, via AP.
On April 25, prosecutors said that "the legal issues identified by the New York Court of Appeal are
not present in the Los Angeles County Case.".
The Manhattan district attorney's office
said they will "do everything in our power to
retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault."
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Harvey Weinstein's lawyer is saying it's a "great day in America" after the former Hollywood mogul's rape conviction in New York was overturned. Arthur Aidala, Weinstein's lawyer in the appellate case, opened the first press conference after the overturned conviction saying that his team always knew that "Harvey Weinstein did not get a fair trial." The New York state Court of Appeals overturned Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction Thursday, ruling that the judge in the New York County trial was prejudiced against Weinstein because among other things, the court allowed women to testify about allegations that were not part of the case.
Credit: The Hollywood Reporter Duration: 02:41Published
The New York state Court of Appeals has overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction. The court ruled that the judge in the New York County trial prejudiced Weinstein with improper rulings, including allowing women to testify about allegations that were not part of the case. The court ruled that a new trial must take place.
Credit: The Hollywood Reporter Duration: 01:37Published
The Secret Service is investigating a fatal crash -- a car slamming into a White House barrier sent agents and D.C. police scrambling. The action went down late.. TMZ.com
A driver died after crashing a car into the exterior gate of the White House late Saturday, the US Secret Service said. "Shortly before 10:30 pm a vehicle travelling at a high speed collided with an outer perimeter gate on the White House complex" the service said in a statement on social media platform X. The Secret Service, along with the police and fire departments of the District of Columbia, have launched an investigation into the fatal crash, according to Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. He added there was "no threat or public safety implications". In January, authorities detained another person who crashed a vehicle into the exterior gate of the same complex.
#WhiteHouseGate #SecurityBreach #USNews #DriverIncident #InvestigationLaunched #SecretService #BreakingNews #USIncident #SecurityAlert #DriverFatality
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Mark Hamill says the force is strong with this White House, appearing at a press briefing to cap off the week and sing the praises of President Biden, whom he's.. TMZ.com
The White House defended President Biden's comments on 'xenophobia' regarding India, China, and Japan, stressing the positive role of immigrants in the US. Biden's remarks, made at a Democratic Party fundraiser, linked economic challenges in these countries to xenophobia, but faced criticism. Nonetheless, the White House reaffirmed Biden's commitment to strengthening ties with allies like India and Japan.
#WhiteHouse #PresidentBiden #JapanIndia #USIndia #USJapan #Xenophobia #BidenGaffe #USnews #Worldnews #Oneindia #Oneindianews
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A federal judge sentenced celebrity lawyer turned criminal defendant Michael Avenatti to 30 months in prison for attempting to extort millions of dollars from Nike.
A New York judge sentenced the combative Los Angeles lawyer Michael Avenatti to 2 1/2 years in prison Thursday for trying to extort up to $25 million from Nike by threatening to use his popularity to..