Michael Avenatti’s Sentence Increased To 11 years
California Senator Alex Padilla has emerged as the Democrats’ newest “theater kid”—a term now synonymous with hollow political pageantry dressed up for primetime. In his latest floor stunt, Padilla leaned into performance over policy, echoing a well-worn Democratic tradition of turning the Senate floor into an audition reel for cable news.
Padilla’s theatrics drew immediate comparisons to past liberal darlings, particularly Michael Avenatti—the disgraced former attorney whose rapid ascent and catastrophic downfall now serve as a cautionary tale. Five years ago, Avenatti was paraded across friendly newsrooms as a “fighter for justice,” even touted as a future presidential contender. His angry, camera-ready rants made him a media favorite and a progressive icon.
But the act didn’t last.
Flashback: CNN's @brianstelter touts Michael Avenatti as a "serious" contender for 2020.
"And looking ahead to 2020, one reason I’m taking you seriously as a contender is because of your presence on cable news.” pic.twitter.com/c5JEdVrLiJ
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) March 25, 2019
In February 2020, Avenatti was convicted for attempting to extort Nike. His message to the sportswear giant was blunt: pay him $25 million, or face public allegations of illegal payments to athletes' families. A federal jury found him guilty of extortion, wire fraud, and transmission of interstate communications with intent to extort. He was sentenced to 2½ years in prison and fined $260,000.
That conviction was just the beginning.
Michael Avenatti appeared on CNN and MSNBC over 120 times last year, but CNN just can’t find any room for him on its home page the day after he was indicted for fraud.
(enough space, though, for ‘Trump bad’ and.. Steph Curry’s wife) pic.twitter.com/z3aTMv1mKg
— Razor (@hale_razor) May 23, 2019
In 2022, Avenatti was convicted of stealing nearly $300,000 from his most famous client, adult film actress Stormy Daniels, in a case that became a media circus. He appealed his sentence, but rather than finding reprieve, the trial court—after hearing gut-wrenching testimony from his victims—increased his sentence to 11 years.
One victim, Alexis Gardner, detailed how Avenatti stole her entire $2.75 million settlement from NBA player Hassan Whiteside and used it to fund his lavish lifestyle—including the purchase of a private jet and a Ferrari. Gardner, visibly emotional in court, described Avenatti as a “legal predator” who hijacked her future while pretending to protect her.
Avenatti now sits in federal prison, with at least seven years to go and nearly $20 million owed in restitution—funds unlikely to ever be recovered.
CNN put Michael Avenatti on the air SEVENTY-FOUR TIMES over a two-month period to savage Donald Trump. Trump has been vindicated completely in the Russia collusion charade. Avenatti was just charged with extortion. CNN is having a very, very bad day.
— Brent Bozell (@BrentBozell) March 25, 2019
Yet despite these cautionary tales, Democrats continue elevating performers over statesmen. Padilla’s recent antics aren’t unique—they’re just another scene in a broader production. Democrats and their media allies remain enamored with style over substance, propping up whichever “actor” fits the moment’s narrative. Today it’s Padilla. Yesterday it was Avenatti.