Michael Avenatti slams Trump tape release: Michael Cohen and Lanny Davis are 'playing the American public'

The attorney representing adult film star Stormy Daniels issued a public challenge to Michael Cohen, the Donald Trump "fixer" whose secretly recorded audio tape discussing a hush money payment has dominated the news cycle since being released on CNN Tuesday evening.

During a Wednesday interview with MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle, attorney Michael Avenatti was asked to explain his contention that Cohen was angling for a pardon by releasing the tapes.

"There's a lot of additional damaging information, and Michael Cohen doesn't want to provide that information to the American public and doesn't want to come clean," Avenatti argued. "He's playing, and Lanny Davis is playing, the American public right now."

"We're not going to participate in that and we're going to continue to hammer away at this guy until he does the right thing," he added.

"How are they playing us?" Ruhle asked. "You think they're putting forth a front where they're saying, 'I'm trying to do the right thing, I'm releasing this tape to show I'm a good guy' and that's not actually the truth?"

"That's exactly what they're doing, Stephanie," Avenatti replied. "Again, this is one of many tapes, this is not even the tip of the iceberg."

Then Avenatti issued his public challenge.

"Look, if Lanny Davis is to be believed, his comments this morning that Michael Cohen is not seeking a pardon, Michael Cohen should issue a written statement this morning stating that he will not accept a pardon from Donald Trump regardless of the circumstances."

Avenatti followed up on his demands following his MSNBC appearance.

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