Avenatti pleads not guilty to trying to extort Nike

Lawyer Michael Avenatti pleaded not guilty to charges relating to an alleged attempt to extort footwear and clothing company Nike for millions. 

Avenatti, who famously represented adult film actress Stormy Daniels in a case against President Trump, said Tuesday that he was pleading “not guilty” to three charges against him, Reuters reported. 

The attorney has been accused of threatening to hold a news conference to discuss Nike’s alleged improper payments to college basketball recruits if Nike did not pay him, according to the wire service.

Nike has denied wrongdoing. 

A trial for Avenatti is reportedly slated for  Jan. 21, 2020. 

Avenatti has also faced a series of other criminal charges in recent months. He has been accused of stealing about $300,000 from Daniels and has also been accused of wire fraud, bank fraud and other crimes.

The lawyer said this year that he was facing charges because he was a “threat” to President Trump.

“The government didn’t begin to look at charging me criminally until I became one of the biggest threats, if not the biggest threat, to the president of the United States, and anyone who thinks differently is a fool,” he told Vanity Fair in May.