Avenatti: Bumping into Cohen in NYC yields a 'lengthy' and 'frank' discussion

By Jim Acosta, MJLee and Sophie Tatum @ CNN.com, Updated 4:49 PM ET, Fri July 20, 2018

What began as a coincidental encounter between Michael Avenatti and Michael Cohen on Monday evening evolved into what Avenatti is calling a potentially "critical" meeting.

The two bumped into each other at the New York restaurant Scalinatella, Avenatti told CNN, which led to a "lengthy" and "frank" conversation.

"We had a very open, honest and frank discussion that I found to be extremely productive. It was lengthy. It was frank," Avenatti said.

Vanity Fair previously reported on the encounter between Avenatti and Cohen.

"Michael and I conversed and I found that meeting to be productive," Avenatti said. "That meeting could ultimately end up being a critical meeting."

[....]

When asked about what he and Cohen discussed during their conversation Monday, Avenatti said, "Had Mr. Trump witnessed this interaction, he would have blown a gasket."

Avenatti also noted that he did not pick up Cohen's tab [....]