Michael Avenatti on Tuesday expressed support for former President Donald Trump’s First Amendment rights in a message posted to the now-incarcerated lawyer’s X account.
“When it comes to the First Amendment, don’t be a hypocrite,” the disgraced lawyer wrote.
“That’s outrageous [Michael] with coen [Stormy] Daniels can do countless TV interviews, post on social, make dollars with fake documentaries — all by talking shit about Trump — but if he does, he’ll be gagged. They are being threatened with jail time,” Avenatti added.
Avenatti said Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Melchian had verbally attacked the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, including witnesses and family members involved in District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s hush money case against the former president. He cited multiple orders restricting his ability to do so.
Avenatti, a former central figure in the case who represented porn stars and was a regular on cable news shows, was sentenced to prison in 2022 after being found guilty of defrauding numerous former clients out of millions of dollars and more. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. crime.
The 53-year-old lawyer was previously sentenced to five years in prison for trying to defraud Daniels of a book contract and extort $25 million from footwear maker Nike.
Avenatti is currently incarcerated at the Terminal Island Federal Correctional Facility in San Pedro, California. Inmates there don’t have access to the internet, but can send messages to the outside world by letter, phone or “restricted email.”According to the facility, the world Inmate Orientation Handbook.
Social media users seemed more confused by Avenatti’s whereabouts when the tweet was posted than by the content of his claims.
“Would you recommend this place to Donald while you’re there?” George Conway, co-founder of the anti-Trump political action committee The Lincoln Project, asked, including a screenshot of Avenatti’s federal prison profile. tweeted.
“Wait… are you allowed to tweet while in prison?” one incredulous X user posted, echoing the thoughts of many.
“Look who wants a pardon,” tweeted Eric Columbus, a former Justice Department official and a lawyer on the House Jan. 6 Select Committee.
This was the disgraced lawyer’s first post since December of last year.
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Avenatti’s release date is August 20, 2035.
