Avenatti pleads not guilty in Nike extortion case

Attorney Michael Avenatti pleaded not guilty to extorting Nike by threatening to go public with damaging information if they did not pay him $25 million.

Avenatti, who rose to fame while defending porn star Stormy Daniels in her efforts against President Trump, was accused by prosecutors of trying to extort Nike for $25 million after threatening to reveal that the sportswear giant had improperly paid college athletes. Nike denied any wrongdoing related to payments to athletes and turned Avenatti over to authorities before he could go public with the story.