Avenatti Says Verdict in Stormy Daniels Case Should Be Tossed

Michael Avenatti challenged his convictions for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from porn star Stormy Daniels at oral argument before the Second Circuit, Friday.

According to Avenatti, he’s entitled to a new trial. Counsel for the disgraced lawyer focused on two alleged problems with the trial court’s jury instructions, starting with a second Allen charge given to the jury after it sent a note to Judge Jesse M. Furman stating it had one juror who was” refusing to look at evidence” and was “acting on a feeling.”

An Allen charge is a supplemental instruction given when a jury appears ...