Michael Avenatti Owes the IRS Millions

The “creepy porn lawyer” Michael Avenatti is in a heck of a lot more trouble than he believes President Donald Trump to be in. Avenatti has a history of representing less than reputable individuals, probably because he doesn’t have much of a reputation himself. A new investigation from The Daily Beast found that while Avenatti owed millions to the IRS, he was busy living like there’s no tomorrow.

The Taxman Cometh for Michael Avenatti

Avenatti has been floating the possibility of a 2020 presidential run (for the sake of publicity, presumably), and if he does, his tax returns would become a bigger issue for him than Trump’s. According to the Daily Beast’s investigation:

  • Avenatti owes $2.4 million to the IRS for unpaid taxes on companies he controls.
  • In addition to the $2.4 million in business taxes Avenatti owes, two liens against him show he owes at least $1.2 million personally. Avenatti claims those debts have been settled, but records don’t show those two liens (for 308,396 and 903,987 respectively) being settled.
  • A former colleague claims that Avenatti stiffed him out of millions in law-firm profits.
  • His former law firm “Eagan Avenatti” owes $213,253 in unpaid rent.

And despite everything he owes, you wouldn’t know it from his lifestyle. “We traveled extensively throughout the world, and, when not flying privately, we always flew business class and stayed at five-star hotels,” said his ex-wife Storie-Avenatti in divorce records. “I had unfettered use of credit cards that were in my name. My American Express bill was historically on average of $60,000 to $70,000 per month, and was paid in full each month.” Avenatti also employed a full-time pilot for $100,000 a year and owned two private jets, each worth $9 million.

How hard would it have been to set aside half the money needed to purchase a private jet towards his debts?

Sexual Discrimination Allegations Plague Avenatti

And of course, there are allegations of gender discrimination against Avenatti, The man who endlessly drones on about Trump’s finances and alleged misconduct with women appears to be projecting more than an IMAX.

Not only was there a sexual misconduct allegation levied about companies controlled by Avenatti, in pure Avenatti fashion, he has yet to pay the victim. Two companies controlled by Avenatti have yet to pay the over $126,000 owed to a victim of a sex discrimination case despite orders from a Washington state court forcing them to do so. The lawsuit was from Elizabeth Eno, a manager at a Tully’s Coffee chain (previously owned by Avenatti), who was fired in July 2016 because she got pregnant. The two companies owned by Avenatti in question are “Global Baristas LLC and Global Baristas US, LLC” (which are essentially the same company).

Eno was granted an affidavit to garnish the bank accounts of Avenatti’s companies, but they didn’t have any assets, so she’s still waiting on the money she’s entitled to. Her settlements’ value equals 1.4% of one of Avenatti’s private jets.

Avenatti may be years away from officially launching a Presidential campaign, but it can’t be off to a worse start than this. That is, until more news comes out.

By Matt

Matt is the co-founder of Unbiased America and a freelance writer specializing in economics and politics. He’s been published... More about Matt

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