Court revokes Giuliani’s legal license in New York for persistently lying about Trump’s 2020 election defeat

July 5, 2024

Updated: July 5, 2024

On Tuesday, Rudolph Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, federal prosecutor, and legal adviser to Donald Trump, was stripped of his legal license in New York. This decision came after a⁢ court determined that he had repeatedly made false⁢ statements regarding Trump’s loss ⁤in the 2020‍ election.

The Manhattan appeals court, which had previously suspended⁤ Giuliani’s New York law license in‍ 2021 for making ⁢false statements related⁣ to ‌the election, declared that he is no⁤ longer permitted to‌ practice ⁢law⁢ in ⁢the state, effective immediately.

The ⁤court’s decision emphasized the severity of Giuliani’s misconduct. It stated that Giuliani had “flagrantly misused” ‌his position and “baselessly attacked and undermined the integrity of this country’s electoral process.”

The court further noted that Giuliani had‌ not only deliberately violated⁤ some of the most fundamental principles of the legal profession, but he had also actively contributed to the‌ national strife that followed ⁣the 2020 Presidential‍ election, showing no remorse for his actions.

Reacting to the decision, Giuliani’s spokesperson, Ted Goodman, stated ‍that the man once known as ‍“America’s mayor” plans to appeal the ‌“objectively ⁤flawed” decision. He also urged others in the legal ⁣community to voice their opposition to the “politically and ideologically corrupted decision.”

Arthur Aidala, Giuliani’s attorney,⁤ expressed disappointment but not surprise at the decision. He acknowledged that his legal team had made a “valiant effort” ⁣to prevent the disbarment but had anticipated the outcome.

The court’s decision noted that Giuliani‌ had ⁢”essentially conceded” most of the facts supporting the alleged acts of misconduct ⁢during hearings held in October 2023. However, he argued that he “lacked knowledge that statements he had made were false and ‌that he had a good faith ⁤basis to believe the allegations he made to support his claim that the 2020 ⁣Presidential ⁢election was⁣ stolen from ⁣his client.”

The court found that Giuliani had made false and dishonest claims during the 2020 Presidential election. For instance, he falsely claimed that thousands ⁣of votes were cast in the‍ names‍ of deceased individuals ⁣in⁢ Philadelphia,⁣ including a ballot in the name of the late boxing legend Joe Frazier. He also falsely claimed ⁣that ⁤people were transported ‍from nearby Camden, New Jersey, to vote illegally in the Pennsylvania city.

The court order mandates that Giuliani ⁢must cease practicing⁢ law in any form, including giving legal opinions or advice, ⁢or presenting himself as an attorney‌ and⁤ counselor-at-law.

Prior to representing Trump’s case⁢ in November 2020,⁤ Giuliani had not‌ appeared in court as ‍an attorney since ‌1992, according to court records.

The disbarment adds to the growing troubles for⁢ the 80-year-old Giuliani. In⁣ May, WABC radio suspended⁢ him and ⁢canceled his daily talk show because he refused to stop making false⁤ claims about the‌ 2020 election.

Giuliani is also⁢ at‍ risk ‌of losing his ⁣law license ‍in Washington. A board in May recommended that he ⁢be disbarred, though the final decision rests with the court.

He also filed for bankruptcy last ⁤year⁤ after being ordered to pay‌ $148 ⁤million in damages to two former Georgia election workers over lies he spread about them that resulted in racist threats and harassment.

On Monday, Giuliani requested a federal judge to‍ convert his⁢ bankruptcy case from a reorganization to a liquidation,⁣ which would mean most‌ of⁤ his assets would be sold off⁣ to help pay‌ what he owes creditors. At the ⁢end of May, he had about $94,000 in cash on‍ hand ‌while his⁣ company, Giuliani⁣ Communications, had about $237,000 in‍ the‍ bank, according to court documents.

Giuliani ⁤is also facing criminal⁢ charges ⁣in Georgia and Arizona over his role in the effort to overturn‌ the 2020⁢ election. He has pleaded not guilty in both cases.

He’s charged in ⁤Georgia with‍ making false statements and soliciting false testimony, conspiring to create phony paperwork and‌ asking state lawmakers to violate their oath of⁢ office to ⁤appoint an alternate slate of pro-Trump electors.

The Arizona indictment accuses Giuliani of ⁣pressuring⁤ Maricopa County ⁤officials and state legislators to change the outcome of Arizona’s results⁤ and encouraging Republican electors in ⁢the state to vote for Trump in December 2020.

Giuliani built his public ⁤persona by practicing law, as the⁢ top federal prosecutor in ‌Manhattan in the⁢ 1980s, when he went after mobsters, powerbrokers and others. The law-and-order reputation ⁣helped catapult him into politics, governing‌ the United‌ States’ most‍ populous city ‌when it was beset by high crime.

The Republican was lauded for holding the city together after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, when⁣ two hijacked planes slammed into the twin towers of the World⁣ Trade Center, killing more than 2,700 people.

However,⁣ after unsuccessful runs for the ‌U.S. Senate ⁣and the presidency, and a lucrative career as a globetrotting consultant, Giuliani tarnished his ‌image as a ⁣centrist who could get along with ⁣Democrats as he became one of Trump’s most loyal defenders.

He was the primary mouthpiece for Trump’s false claims of election‍ fraud after the 2020 vote, infamously standing at a press conference in front of Four⁤ Seasons Total Landscaping outside Philadelphia saying the campaign would challenge what he claimed was a vast conspiracy by Joe Biden and fellow Democrats.

Lies around the election results helped push an ‍angry mob of pro-Trump rioters ⁢to storm the U.S. Capitol‌ on Jan. 6, 2021,⁣ in an effort⁣ to stop the⁤ certification of Biden’s victory.

___

Contributions to this story were made by Associated Press reporters Karen Matthews and Jennifer Peltz in New‍ York, Michael Sisak in Fort Pierce, ⁤Fla., Dave‍ Collins in Hartford,⁣ Conn. and Alanna Durkin Richer⁢ in Washington.

Alejandro Mendoza

Alejandro Mendoza is a dedicated journalist, known for his in-depth research and commitment to truth. A graduate of Columbia University's School of Journalism, he specializes in revealing and reporting on significant local issues.