Courthouse News reports:
A federal judge warned the lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels on Wednesday that his attacks against the president’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen, could interfere in Cohen’s rights to a fair trial. Wrapping up a heated one-hour hearing this morning, U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood emphasized that the proceedings here are “a potential precursor to a criminal trial if charges are filed against Mr. Cohen.”
“I either want you to participate, or not be in the matter at all,” Wood told Avenatti. “I don’t want you to have some existence in a limbo where you’re free to denigrate Mr. Cohen, and I believe potentially deprive him of a fair trial by tainting a jury pool. This conduct is inimicable to giving Mr. Cohen eventually a fair trial.” The dressing-down came after Cohen’s attorney Stephen Ryan urged the court to exclude California-based Avenatti from the proceedings.
NEW: Michael Avenatti has withdrawn his motion to appear before a NY federal court in the Michael Cohen case.
— David P Gelles (@gelles) May 30, 2018
Here are my comments relating to the shocking development in court today relating to the #TrumpTapes. They should be released now. #Basta pic.twitter.com/S8xZ7ipe8X
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) May 30, 2018
The #TrumpTapes that were just disclosed in court as a result of our efforts should be released immediately. Not tmrw, not next week or next month. Now. Nixon 2.0. #Basta
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) May 30, 2018