Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for adult film actress Stormy Daniels, said Friday he would consider representing President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen if he were to "come clean."
Avenatti has accused Cohen of giving Daniels $130,000 in hush money and has been dubbed his "chief nemesis," but he said Cohen may yet be willing to reveal secrets for the good of the American people. This comes after a report Friday confirmed what Avenatti had alleged two months ago: that Cohen taped conversations with Trump.
The New York Times reported Cohen taped a conversation with Trump about his affair with a former Playboy model. Avenatti said there are more tapes that will be damaging to Trump, and he called on Cohen to tell what he knows.
MSNBC host Ari Melber asked Avenatti if he would represent Cohen, and while Avenatti initially said he did not want to answer the question, he went on to explain what Cohen could do to make him consider it.
"I’m not going to get into discussing what I may or may not have discussed with Michael Cohen," he said.
"You would not rule out trying to represent Michael Cohen in this matter?" Melber asked.
Avenatti said he would consider it but did not say whether he had a conversation with Cohen about it.
"If he was prepared to do the right thing and come clean and basically turn state’s evidence, I would absolutely consider it, in an effort to disclose information and bring the truth to the American people," he said.
Daniels' lawyer said he had a "run-in" with Cohen recently at a New York restaurant "by sheer happenstance." He said he came away from the meeting "encouraged."
Melber asked if retaining Avenatti would "send a message" to Trump, and Avenatti answered in the affirmative.
"I think it would send quite the message, and I think it would advance the cause of the American people as it relates to finding the truth, 200 percent. And that’s why I’m not going to rule it out," Avenatti said.
Avenatti has appeared on TV regularly for months since filing suit on Daniels’ behalf. He has also been sharply critical of Trump, even saying he would run for president against him if no one who is a "street fighter" enters the 2020 race.