Michael Avenatti was arrested for attempting to extort $20 mil in hush money (ala Stormy Daniels) in exchange for not exposing Nike’s cash payments to Phoenix Suns player Deandre Ayton and Oregon’s Bol Bol, while they were still in high school.

Attorney Michael Avenatti has been arrested and charged with a number of crimes, including trying to extort more than $20 million from Nike.

If convicted on all charges and both indictments, he could face up to 97 years in prison, @miguelnbc reports pic.twitter.com/dc6APwMkGe

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 26, 2019

Michael Avenatti: "As all of you know, for the entirety of my career, I have fought against the powerful. Powerful people and powerful corporations. I will never stop fighting that good fight." https://t.co/sS4adWokX9 pic.twitter.com/7VmgeP6UhA

— The Hill (@thehill) March 26, 2019

I want to thank all of my supporters for your kind words and support today. It means a lot to me. I am anxious for people to see what really happened. We never attempted to extort Nike & when the evidence is disclosed, the public will learn the truth about Nike’s crime & coverup.

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 26, 2019

Contrary to Nike’s claims yesterday, they have NOT been cooperating with investigators for over a year. Unless you count lying in response to subpoenas and withholding documents as “cooperating.” They are trying to divert attention from their own crimes.https://t.co/chJEhbsxTH

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 26, 2019

Ask DeAndre Ayton and Nike about the cash payments to his mother and others. Nike’s attempt at diversion and cover-up will fail miserably once prosecutors realize they have been played by Nike and their lawyers at Boies. This reaches the highest levels of Nike.

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 26, 2019

Bol Bol and his handlers also received large sums from Nike. The receipts are clear as day. A lot of people at Nike will have to account for their criminal conduct, starting with Carlton DeBose & moving higher up. The diversion charade they orchestrated against me will be exposed

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 26, 2019

The bigger news today has become that @MichaelAvenatti was released from federal custody, dropped his “bombshell” that @DeandreAyton mom allegedly got paid by Nike, and no one can believe he’d allegedly risk federal charges over THAT news which came out in ESPN reports a year ago

— Amy Dash (@AmyDashTV) March 26, 2019

Having read Avenatti indictment, all I have to say is – what an idiot.

If you are going to threaten a corporation with bad publicity unless you are paid millions, don't give a couple of days for them to get FBI in to wire phones/place up & so you can repeat the threats on tape.

— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) March 25, 2019

If nothing else, Michael Avenatti gave Bruce Willis a good role to play in the eventual miniseries that will come from all of this.

— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) March 26, 2019

Avenatti had aspirations on being elected President and his attempted extortion prove he’s fully qualified for the job.