Once-prominent California attorney Michael Avenatti tried Tuesday to interrupt his trial over whether he stole money from porn star Stormy Daniels to ask to represent himself, but the judge refused to delay the proceeding.
His lawyers made the request to U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman during a break in his Manhattan trial on wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. Avenatti, 50, has vehemently asserted his innocence on the claims that he pocketed nearly $300,000 of the $800,000 advance paid to Daniels for her 2018 book “Full Disclosure.”
