Avenatti Googled ‘Insider Trading’ Before Nike Meeting (2)

Celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti did internet research on put options and insider trading before trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike Inc., federal prosecutors told a judge.

Lawyers for the government on Monday told U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe in Manhattan that they intend to show Avenatti’s search history to jurors at a two-week trial getting underway this week, calling it evidence of the California attorney’s state of mind during the alleged crime. At the time, Avenatti was representing a youth basketball coach with claims against Nike.

Gardephe barred prosecutors from mentioning the search terms in their opening ...