[Church:] Welcome back, everyone. Well, Michael Avenatti, first came to media attention representing a porn star in her legal battle with President Trump. But now, he's facing his own court fight on extortion, bank, and wire fraud charges. Nick Watt, has the details of two separate criminal cases.
[Nick Watt, Cnn Correspondent:] While his frequent nemesis, President Donald Trump gleefully celebrated his claimed vindication by Robert Mueller, in a near Shakespearean twist, Michael Avenatti was arrested in New York.
[Geoffrey Berman, United States Attorney For The Southern District Of New York:] The charges are based on Avenatti scheme to extract more than $20 million in payments from a public company.
[Watt:] Charges were actually filed in two totally unrelated cases in New York and California.
[Michael Avenatti, Former Lawyer Of Stormy Daniels:] I am highly confident that when all of the evidence is laid bare in connection with these cases when it is all known when due process occurs that I will be fully exonerated and justice will be done.
[Watt:] California prosecutors say, their investigation began well before Avenatti lassoed the limelight.
[Nick Hanna, United States Attorney For The Central District Of California:] Agents has nothing to do with anything political, worth anything else. It's just the facts, in this case, speak for themselves.
[Stormy Daniels, Pornographic Actress:] Hi, everyone.
[Watt:] This Newport Beach-based lawyer first found fame repping Stormy Daniels in her legal tussles with President Trump. Avenatti cast himself as a resistance warrior, he even briefly flirted with a 2020 presidential run.
[Hanna:] But the allegations, in this case, describes something different. A corrupt lawyer who instead fights for his own selfish interests.
[Watt:] According to charges filed this morning in New York, in meetings, and on the phone just last week, Avenatti tried to extort more than $20 million from Nike. I'm not effing around with this. Avenatti allegedly told Nike lawyers also suggesting that he held their balls in his hand. This morning, shortly before his arrest, Avenatti had tweeted this. "Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., we will be holding a press conference to disclose a major high schoolcollege basketball scandal perpetrated by Nike.
[Berman:] A suit and tie doesn't mask the fact that at its core, this was an old-fashioned shakedown.
[Watt:] Nike issued a statement that reads in part, "Nike will not be extorted or hide information that is relevant. Nike firmly believes an ethical and fair play, both in business and sports and will continue to assist the prosecutors." An unnamed co-conspirator is mentioned but not charged. Identified by a source is Attorney Mark Geragos who was a CNN contributor, but no longer is as of today. He didn't immediately respond to CNN's request for comment. Here in California, Avenatti was also charged today, a charged with wire fraud and bank fraud for allegedly falsifying tax returns to secure $4.1 million in loans. And for allegedly delaying payment of $1.6 million he won for a client, using the cash for his own personal and business use. Stormy Daniels tweeting, "I am saddened but not shocked." Apparently, an entirely total coincidence that Avenatti was arrested just after the Mueller probe into President Donald Trump released its findings. Prosecutors in Los Angeles today saying, "Listen, we began this probe way back in 2015. That is when this investigation began, there is nothing political to see here." Now, Avenatti was released on $300,000 bail, and he's due back in the California court on April the first. Nick Watt, CNN, Los Angeles.
[Church:] Thanks for that, Nick. And thanks for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. Remember to connect with me anytime on Twitter, and I'll be back with another hour of news in just a moment. You're watching CNN, do stay with us.