(AP)

       Stormy Daniels is testifying in a Manhattan court against her former lawyer Michael Avenatti, who is alleged to have swindled her out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Avenatti has said he will question her for “six hours”, but the judge seemed unimpressed by the suggestion.

       Avenatti took over representation of himself from his legal team on Tuesday, saying it is “the best chance at winning” the case. The California lawyer is accused of stealing $300,000 of the money Ms Daniels was owed for her autobiography. He is charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

       Avenatti became well known nationally in 2018 as he represented Ms Daniels in lawsuits against Donald Trump. He was briefly something of a hero for many anti-Trumpers, but come 2020 he began a spectacular fall from grace that saw him sentenced to jail for trying to extort Nike out of millions of dollars.

       Key points Avenatti files motion to examine Luke Janklow and Stormy Daniels Witness says Avenatti ‘wanted to go big’ on Daniels’ encounter with Trump Sean Macias said Avenatti wanted to represent porn star for a dollar

       Show latest update 1643301619 Court goes into recess

       The trial has broken for lunch. Expect more updates soon...

       Andrew Naughtie 27 January 2022 16:40

       1643301329 The Avenatti-Daniels contract

       Adam Klasfeld has the story on the contract between Stormy Daniels and Michael Avenatti that’s at the core of her case against him.

       Andrew Naughtie 27 January 2022 16:35

       1643300940 When Daniels met Avenatti

       Stormy Daniels is testifying about her early dealings with Michael Avenatti:

       Andrew Naughtie 27 January 2022 16:29

       1643300295 The questioning begins...

       Ms Daniels’s testimony kicks off with questions about her stage name, her beliefs in paranormal activity, and her reasons for firing Avenatti:

       Andrew Naughtie 27 January 2022 16:18

       1643299961 Stormy Daniels takes the stand

       The government has finally summoned the trial’s core witness to give her testimony.

       Andrew Naughtie 27 January 2022 16:12

       1643299959 Stormy Daniels takes the stand

       The government has finally summoned the trial’s core witness to give her testimony.

       Andrew Naughtie 27 January 2022 16:12

       1643299664 Avenatti asks witness to roleplay his exchanges with Daniels

       Avenatti is having the prosecution’s forensic witness play the part of Stormy Daniels as the two read through the text exchanges that have been submitted in evidence.

       Andrew Naughtie 27 January 2022 16:07

       1643298526 Catch up: how did we get here?

       As we wait for Stormy Daniels to take the stand in the trial of her onetime ally and lawyer, here’s a piece explaining what the trial is all about.

       Once allies, Stormy Daniels and Avenatti face off at trial The porn star who catapulted Michael Avenatti to fame four years ago will get a starring role in a New York courtroom when prosecutors try to prove the California lawyer cheated her of $300,000 in book proceeds

       Andrew Naughtie 27 January 2022 15:48

       1643296589 Forensic phone evidence raised at trial

       The prosecution have called an expert witness to testify about text message exchanges between Avenatti and Ms Daniels.

       Andrew Naughtie 27 January 2022 15:16

       1643295629

       Reporter Meghann Cunniff writes that among the various matters Avenatti is trying to introduce into the trial is an alleged hush money payment made to suppress a video that would have cast Ms Daniels in an unflattering light:

       Andrew Naughtie 27 January 2022 15:00

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