Michael Avenatti told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday that he is still undecided as to whether or not he’ll run for president, adding that he thinks America needs to go back to the way it once was, during an interview on “The Situation Room.”
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“Well, we think the district court judge got it wrong on the defamation claim, Wolf. But also, let me say this. The defamation case was a secondary case to the main case, which is the case over the nondisclosure agreement,” Avenatti stated. “I don’t think Donald Trump is smart enough to understand that. I actually think that he believes that he won the NDA case, which is laughable.”
The lawsuit Avenatti referenced centered on a tweet from the president wherein he claimed that the man Daniels claims threatened her to keep quiet about her alleged affair with Trump was “nonexistent.” (RELATED: Judge Dismisses Stormy Daniels’ Suit Against Trump)
Federal Judge S. James Otero ruled the president’s tweet was not defamation, but “rhetorical hyperbole,” and dismissed the case on Monday. (RELATED: REPORT: Judge Ready To Toss Stormy Daniels Lawsuit Against Trump)
“And just finally, you are running, is that right?” Blitzer asked.
Attorney Michael Avenatti and actor Alyssa Milano attend a protest outside the White House in Washington, U.S. July 17, 2018. REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert
“No. I have not announced whether I’m running. I haven’t made a decision. What I will say is, I’m traveling around the country. I’m very encouraged by people and their reaction to me and a lot of people are encouraging me to run, because they think that we need a fighter,” he continued. “We need somebody to call this president out on his conduct. And we have got to get back to making this nation what it once was.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Avenatti’s political action committee spent thousands of dollars to purchase Facebook advertisements and for access to a Democratic Party voter database.
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