SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 15 – When after three days of jury selection the trial of Michael Avenatti for allegedly extorting Nike began on January 29, Assistant US Attorney Robert Sobelman told the selected jurors that Avenatti was supposed to look out for the interests of his client, but he did not - he had a weapon, social media. More on 1st day on Patreon here.
Now on July 15 Avenatti has asked to move his sentencing from August 19 into October: "United States v. Avenatti, No. S1 19 Cr. 373 (PGG) Motion for an Adjournment of the Sentencing Date and Filing of Sentencing Submissions Dear Judge Gardephe: Mr. Avenatti’s sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for August 19, 2020, having been adjourned once previously. I write to respectfully request a second adjournment of the sentencing date for approximately fifty (50) days, until the week of October 5-9, 2020, if the Court’s schedule permits."
Back on February 4, after a day of cross examination and re-direct of Gary Franklin's adviser Jeffrey Auerbach, AUSA Sobelman after the jury left complained to Judge Paul G. Gardephe, "The defendant is extremely loud," referring to his remonstrating on which Inner City Press reported yesterday.
Judge Gardephe said, I haven't heard anything. But this is an issue that came up before. I will ask Mr. Avenatti's lawyers to speak to him. I'll have to pay more attention to the defense table. We can't have the jury hearing exchanges between Mr. Avenatti and his attorney. I'll have to intervene."
And then Avenatti spoke up for himself: "I'll be conscious of my voice. I have a lot at stake, everyone knows that." Inner City Press tweet of that here; day's thread here.
Inner City Press will continue to cover the trial, as much as possible. Today's afternoon radio here. More of Patreon here.
On February 3, Gary Franklin's pro bono consultant Jeffrey Auerbach took the stand. Inner City Press was in the courtroom's second row when Assistant US Attorney Robert Sobelman walked Auerbach through testimony about Avenatti saying he was headed to New York on a red-eye to get $1 million for Gary Franklin.
As Auerbach gave his opinion, Avenatti vigorously shook his head, with hair on the sides above the ears. He took notes that apparently went into the cross examination, to which Sobelman repeatedly objected. Finally Judge Gardephe said, You are objecting to a document you the prosecutors put into the record. Again the payments to Deandre Ayton, mother and handler Melvin McDonalnd, to Bol Bol and to Shaun Manning Brandon McCoy came up. People wanted to know more but there are limits. More on Patreon here.
On January 31 Inner City Press published the March 25, 2019 draft settlement agreements, with dollar figure left blank, here on Scribed and on Patreon for download here, as well as the more than one hour video of Avenatti's and Mark Geragos' meeting with Nike's outside counsel, Scott Wilson of Boies Schiller, here.
Inner City Press has also published three audio records of Wilson's conversations on March 20, 2019 with Geragos, and Avenatti, saying "I'm not f*cking around." Audio I, II and III. More including transcripts on Patreon here.
We will have more on this, here and on Patreon.
Inner City Press live-tweeted the start of the proceedings, here, and since and will have more. More on Patreon here. The case is US v. Avenatti, 19-cr-373 (Gardephe).
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