Michael Avenatti states that he wouldn't rely on a Trump pardon and is contemplating switching to the Republican party.

Earlier this year, imprisoned attorney Michael Avenatti gained attention when he expressed sympathy for former president Donald Trump, who was facing numerous criminal charges, leading observers to speculate that Avenatti was hoping for a pardon should Trump return to the White House.

Avenatti stated on Planet Chronicle Digital that he believes it would be "foolish" to rely on Trump's presidency, even after his election.

"If the president were to show empathy and reduce my sentence or commute some of the charges, Avenatti stated in a phone interview. However, he added that he is not holding out for that and believes the president has a lot on his mind. Avenatti stated that he may or may not receive empathy from the president, but he is focusing on doing what he needs to do and staying close to his family and faith at this time."

In 2018, Avenatti gained prominence as a liberal media personality, gaining notoriety for his aggressive representation of Stormy Daniels in their efforts to invalidate a non-disclosure agreement she signed regarding an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. Daniels was at the center of Trump's conviction in New York earlier this year for falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to her during the 2016 campaign.

In 2018, Avenatti was frequently seen on television, appearing in hundreds of interviews on CNN and MSNBC, as well as on Bill Maher, "The View," and the cover of Vogue, earning him the label of an "existential threat to the Trump presidency" by Stephen Colbert.

As quickly as he rose to prominence, his criminal activities were exposed, including stealing from clients, stealing Daniels' book proceeds, and attempting to extort millions from Nike. Now an inmate at minimum-security Terminal Island federal prison in California, the 53-year-old says he's trying to turn over a new leaf and speaks of Trump in almost reverential tones.

"The president is a formidable communicator and fighter, having withstood immense challenges over the past eight years and emerged victorious."

Avenatti, being a fellow multiple-indictee, understood the strain it places on an individual and their loved ones.

He said, "I don't know how he did it, but it's impressive as hell, being a guy who's been there."

In the 2020 presidential cycle, Avenatti was considered as a possible Democratic candidate due to his fame, but now he says the party is in a bad state and out of sync, and he aligns more with Republicans. He predicted Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2020 election.

"He told Planet Chronicle Digital that he is currently a member of the Democratic Party, but may switch to the Republican Party after getting out of prison. He explained that he may become a Republican because the Democratic Party today is not the same as the one he has known for the past 30 or 40 years. He identified himself as a Bill Clinton Democrat and said that if Bill Clinton ran for president today, he couldn't run as a Democrat. He added that the Republican Party has become the party of the working class, and there are very few issues that he identifies with the Democratic Party on now."

The suspended lawyer, Avenatti, stated that Democrats lacked direction and had a branding issue, and he believed a "Resistance" movement was unlikely to form in a second Trump term. Given his damaged reputation, it's unlikely Democrats would take his assessment seriously.

"He advised the Democrats to consider finding common ground with Trump to move forward, stating that the idea of demonizing Trump and engaging in Trump Derangement Syndrome was no longer effective."

The disgraced attorney obtained a legal victory last month when a federal appeals panel overturned his 14-year sentence for stealing millions from his clients in California. The panel determined that the sentence was based on incorrect financial loss calculations and sent the case back to a judge for a new sentencing hearing, as reported by the Associated Press.

Avenatti stated that he anticipated discovering his revised sentence within the next four to five months and was optimistic that it would be "substantially shorter."

In October, the appeals panel considered whether the 14-year sentence for Avenatti should be served concurrently with the time he is currently serving for separate convictions in New York on the Nike and Daniels cases.

Planet Chronicle Digital reached out to a Trump spokesman for comment.