Cyrus Langhorne
Controversial singer R. Kelly might have caught the break of a lifetime with celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti going down this week on extortion and fraud charges. The crooner’s legal muscle has weighed-in on the lawyer’s sexual assault war against Kells possibly getting derailed.
According to Kells’ attorney, Avenatti has bigger things to now worry about than taking down his client.
R. Kelly’s attorney, Steve Greenberg, tells TMZ … now that Avenatti has been charged with extortion as well as bank and tax fraud, his credibility is now a centerpiece in the singer’s case — specifically, the circumstances surrounding how prosecutors obtained a key piece of evidence. That evidence, of course, is a sex tape that Cook County investigators claim shows R. Kelly having sex with an underage girl, who’s alleged to be 14 years old. It’s what many believe to be a smoking gun against R. Kelly … and the catalyst that led to a 10-count indictment. Greenberg says the issue of “chain of custody” — how Cook County got ahold of that tape via Avenatti — is now questionable. Greenberg strongly suggests the possibility the tape could’ve been altered before it got to prosecutors. (TMZ)
Yesterday, reports emerged about Michael getting taken down by New York federal prosecutors.
Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York said in a charging document that Avenatti tried to get the money by “threatening to use his ability to garner publicity to inflict substantial financial & reputational harm on the company if his demands were not met.” (Business Insider)
Avenatti allegedly threatened to cause Nike billions if the iconic brand didn’t bend.
According to the criminal complaint, Avenatti met in March 2019 with attorney for Nike and threatened to release damaging information about the company if Nike didn’t make millions in payment to himself and an unnamed co-conspirator. Avenatti also allegedly demanded that Nike pay $1.5 million to an individual he claimed to represent. “I’ll go take $10 billion dollars off your client’s market cap…I’m not f***ing around,” Avenatti said, according to the complaint. (CNN)
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Tmrw at 11 am ET, we will be holding a press conference to disclose a major high school/college basketball scandal perpetrated by @Nike that we have uncovered. This criminal conduct reaches the highest levels of Nike and involves some of the biggest names in college basketball.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 25, 2019
Over the past few weeks, Avenatti has aggressively gone after R. Kelly with a slew of sexual abuse allegations.
Kelly’s attorney, Steve Greenberg, previously told the court at the bail hearing a month ago that there were no concerts scheduled and that “Kelly doesn’t even like to fly.” It will be a travesty if this motion is granted – he will never return. https://t.co/TViSAlPIPV
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 20, 2019
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Please note that both of my clients – “JP” & “LC” – were/are supportive of allowing cameras to be present. They will testify and they want the public to have full access so they can learn the true facts as to R Kelly’s abhorrent conduct.https://t.co/pwui8uCoez via @RollingStone
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 16, 2019
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The tapes we have provided leave no doubt as to the guilt of R Kelly. He will never escape accountability in light of this evidence and the DNA evidence from my clients. https://t.co/buwhVDlS35
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 14, 2019
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There is a lot of misinfo. out there concerning my role vs. that of other attys relating to R. Kelly. To clarify, I represent: (a) 2 of the 4 victims in the indictment (both with DNA evidence); (b) 2 whistleblowers with details as to R. Kelly & a 3rd victim in the indictment…
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 12, 2019
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(c) 2 parents; and (d) another victim.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 12, 2019
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Over the last week, we have had 5 other individuals contact us with tapes that they claim show R. Kelly having sex with underage girls. Upon investigation, they don't and the individuals would have no reason to have such a tape. Publicizing this "evidence" undermines the process.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 10, 2019
