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And it gives the best chance for the truth and the evidence to come out. i am completely innocent in this case. it should have never been brought. and i'm hopeful that the jury at the end of the day -- >> joining us now is cnn correspondent kara scannell. what can you tell us on the judge granting avenatti's request to defend himself? >> anderson, it was just after lunch that avenatti told the judge there was a breakdown in the relationship with him and his court appointed counsel. he told the judge that he wanted to represent himself, that he had the best course of action would be for him to ...

The judge told avenatti he wanted to have his eyes wide open. the stakes in the case were very high, but he found avenatti was competent to do so. he told him he would need to abide by the decorum of the courtroom, and he said that court-appointed counsel would be on standby. >> do you know whether or not avenatti has decided to take the stand in his own self-defense? >> so he hasn't said yet, but in court filings in december, his attorney said there was a strong likelihood that avenatti would testify in his own defense. of course, that raises a lot of issues here. how would that actually happ...

I covered a civil trial in federal court where a person represented herself. she sat on the witness stand and asked herself a question and then answered it. it will be up to the judge to decide how that would take place here and whether avenatti would do the same or one of the other attorneys would do the questioning. >> do you know when stormy daniels might testify? and under this scenario, would avenatti be the one cross-examining her? >> yeah, i mean, this is quite a showdown. these two were the dynamic duo who were taking on former president trump. now they will be sparring in the courtroo...

Himself. this was not long after the judge had just cut off that court appointed counsel who was cross-examining the government's first witness. that was stormy daniels' book agent. after the jury left the room, the judge said he did that because in 43 minutes of questioning, he said that the attorney did not ask one relevant question. so avenatti told the judge that he could represent himself, that he actually did represent himself in a criminal trial this past summer that ended in a mistrial. the judge told avenatti he wanted his eyes wide open. the stakes in the case were very high, but he ...

>> mr. avenatti, can you tell us about your decision to represent yourself? >> i'm a trial lawyer. i have been a trial lawyer for 20 years. it's what i do. it's my -- >> we can't hear you clearly. >> i'm sorry. i'm a trial lawyer. it's what i have done for two decades. it's my arena. it's where i'm most at home. and i think it gives me the best chance of winning. and it gives the best chance for the truth and the evident to come out. i am completely innocent in this case. it should have never been brought. and i'm hopeful that the jury at the end of the day -- >> joining us now is cnn correspo...