Judge denies Michael Avenatti’s bail request citing coronavirus concern

SANTA ANA – A federal judge in Santa Ana has denied convicted attorney Michael Avenatti’s request to be released on bail, after Avenatti argued he is especially vulnerable to the coronavirus while awaiting trial in custody in New York.
“We are deeply disappointed,” Avenatti’s attorney Dean Steward said Saturday.
Avenatti was convicted in New York in February of attempting to extort up to $25 million from Nike. He has been in custody since Ja