Avenatti says he’s NOT ruling out 2020 presidential run despite facing more than 40 federal charges

Michael Avenatti said he is still considering making a presidential run in 2020 – even though he’s facing dozens of federal charges.

The attorney told the Washington Examiner he would make a decision ‘later this Fall’ on whether he’s running for president against more than two dozen other Democratic candidates vying to take on Donald Trump.

‘I agree with Steve Bannon,’ Avenatti said in a text message Saturday when asked if he was thinking about a White House bid in 2020, referencing when the former White House chief of staff said he was one of the only ones that could beat Trump.

In an interview in September 2018 with HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, Bannon said that Avenatti is a ‘fighter’ who could take on Trump because he resembles an outsider candidate.

Avenatti said he agreed with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon when he said he was a ‘fighter’ that could take on Trump

Avenatti said if he didn’t run in 2020, he would considering taking on ‘that putz [Donald Trump Jr.] in 2024’

Avenatti said if he decided not to join the 2020 field, he would consider running against ‘that putz [Donald Trump Jr.] in 2024.’

The president’s eldest son has made no public statements indicating he is considering a run once his father is out of office.

In March Avenatti was charged with attempting to extort Nike for at least $22.5 million.

Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York alleged he told the company he would turn over evidence of improper behavior by Nike employees related to college basketball recruitment if the sporting apparel company did not hand over the payment.

The same day he was charged in the Central District of California on wire fraud and bank fraud charges. 

Avenatti has been charged with about 40 federal crimes this year, starting in March when he was charged with attempting to extort Nike for $22.5 million

Avenatti is a vocal Trump critic that rose to prominance when he represented adult entertainer Stormy Daniels in her case alleging she was paid hush-money to keep her affair with Donald Trump quiet during the 2016 elections

In May, he was charged with identity theft and fraud related to allegations he stole $300,000 from Daniels’ book deal

In April he was charged with embezzling about $2 million from his client Hassan Whiteside, a basketball player with the Miami Heat, and the next day he was charged with 36 more financial crimes. 

In May, Avenatti was also charged with wire fraud and identity theft in connection to allegations that he stole $300,000 from his client Stormy Daniels’ book deal

Even before all of the charges came out against him, Avenatti’s chances of beating Trump in 2020 weren’t looking good. An October 2018 poll showed among likely Democratic voters, Avenatti was polling around 1 per cent.

A few months later in December, the lawyer, who represented adult entertainer Daniels in her lawsuit against Trump, ruled out a bid for president.

Instead he promised to ‘continue to represent Stormy Daniels and others against Donald Trump and his cronies.’

Avenatti is a vocal Trump critic and became a household name the past few years when his client, Daniels, alleged Trump had his longtime lawyer Michael Cohen pay her hush-money ahead of the 2016 elections so she would keep her extramarital affair with Trump under wraps.

In a continuation of his legal woes, Avenatti was also sued in June by a former client, Geoffrey Johnson, who is a paraplegic. Johnson accused Avenatti of stealing $4 million from his settlement in 2015.

Avenatti said his chances of joining the primary race are ’50/50.’

‘Never say never,’ Avenatti told CNBC.com. ‘The Dems need a non-traditional fighter. They have a lot of talent but not a lot of fighters.’

‘I don’t think I need to make a final decision for a number of months,’ he dded. ‘I have the name ID and everyone knows I’m one of the few effective fighters that the Dems have.’