New York Daily News

STORM WARNING

Trump’s sex tryst payoff nemesis Avenatti willing to run against him

- BY ANDREW KESHNER

President Michael Avenatti?

Don't dismiss the idea, says Stormy Daniels' omnipresen­t attorney.

Avenatti said if he wanted to make a run, he could “absolutely” beat President Trump in 2020.

“I think it would be an extremely contentiou­s campaign, no holds barred, and very close,” Avenatti told Newsweek on Wednesday.

The Los Angeles-based attorney representi­ng the adult film actress has hardly handled Trump and his fixer, attorney Michael Cohen, with kid gloves. He's suing to get Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, out from under a confidenti­ality agreement that requires she stay mum about an alleged Trump tryst in 2006.

Cohen, who paid Daniels $130,000 near the end of the 2016 campaign, has been under the feds' hard glare in a probe of fraud and campaign finance

violations. Authoritie­s have been rummaging through a mountain of seized documents, and the self-described fixer has been reportedly bracing to get arrested.

Avenatti, who also said he could be the President’s “worst nightmare,” took to Twitter on Wednesday to again talk about a possible run — but only if Trump seeks reelection and there’s no other candidate “that has a REAL chance at beating him,” he wrote.

“We can’t relive 2016. I love this country, our values and our people too much to sit by while they are destroyed,” he added.

He later retweeted the Daily News’ July 4 cover depicting Trump as a “clown who plays king,” saying, “I always liked the Daily News! Be clear - only a street fighter has a chance at displacing the “King.” Otherwise, this country and its principles will be in pieces and non-recognizab­le. #FightClub #Basta”

Avenatti told CNN he has an advantage over Trump for the presidency because the President has steered the country in the wrong direction.

“I think I’d be qualified with three things that this President lacks — brains, heart and courage, and I think I have those in spades compared to this President,” he said.

“I am deeply disturbed at the direction that this country is taking, I’m deeply disturbed by what’s happened most recently with separating these mothers and their children, I think it shows a complete lack of compassion.”

 ??  ?? Michael Avenatti (main photo). lawyer for adult movie star Stormy Daniels (inset with then-Citizen Trump), says he “absolutely” could beat the President if the two face off for the White House in 2020.
Michael Avenatti (main photo). lawyer for adult movie star Stormy Daniels (inset with then-Citizen Trump), says he “absolutely” could beat the President if the two face off for the White House in 2020.
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