I think you are missing the point on this.    Avenatti did not indicate his sources, but so far all his info is accurate.    You can't believe the claims of a lawyer involved in a lawsuit on their face, but confirmation of this was pretty fast coming.  Not only were media outlets able to back up his claims, we have on the record confirmation from the companies. ATT acknowledged they paid Cohen's LLC.  Norvatis acknowledged they paid Cohen's LLC.  Most importantly Columbus Nova acknowledged they paid Cohen's LLC.  This is the company associated with the Russian oligarch. And it seems the media has the original documents as well.  NYTimes confirmed it  The Times’s review of financial records confirmed much of what was in Mr. Avenatti’s report.  NBC News confirmed it  “review financial documents that appear to support”  The Daily Beast Confirmed it with a source who gave one of the better confirmations I've ever heard  “How the fuck did Avenatti find out?” the source asked The Daily Beast.  Vekselberg, the oligarch was interviewed by the special counsel earlier this year. Michael Cohen's lawyer confirmed that money from Vekselberg's company went into this Cohen account, but he said it was not a "payment," but he didn't say what it was.