Rudy Giuliani Disbarred In Washington Over 2020 Election Response

Rudy Giuliani, the former adviser to ex-President Donald Trump, has been officially disbarred in Washington. This decision comes after a disciplinary board expressed concerns over his conduct during the 2020 presidential election.

Disbarment Details

A three-judge panel from the District of Columbia Court of Appeals issued the order for Giuliani's disbarment on September 26. The order cited Giuliani's previous disbarment in New York, where he was accused by an appeals court of making "demonstrably false and misleading statements to the courts, lawmakers, and the public at large." The case was heard by Judges Eric T. Washington, Roy McLeese, and Joshua Deahl. In June 2023, the District of Columbia Bar’s Board on Professional Responsibility issued a report stating that Giuliani “claimed massive election fraud but had no evidence of it.” The board also stated that Giuliani's past accomplishments, including his conduct following the September 11 attacks and his tenure as Mayor of New York City, were overshadowed by his actions during the 2020 presidential election. They described his conduct as "unparalleled in its destructive purpose and effect."

Legal Battles

Giuliani's law licenses in Washington and New York were suspended in 2021. Following the New York decision, Giuliani expressed his disappointment, stating that America is no longer a free state but is controlled by the Democratic Party. Ted Goodman, a spokesperson for Giuliani, referred to the September 26 appeals court decision as "an absolute travesty and a total miscarriage of justice." Giuliani has maintained that he believed the claims he was making on behalf of the Trump campaign were true. Giuliani, aged 80, is currently facing financial difficulties and legal challenges related to the 2020 election. He has pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges in Arizona, alleging he spread false claims of election fraud there after the 2020 election. He has also been charged in Georgia, along with Trump and other allies, with trying to illegally overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. A jury last year awarded two Georgia election workers $148 million in damages in a defamation suit they brought against Giuliani. Jeffrey Clark, a Justice Department official during the Trump administration, also faced disciplinary proceedings over his role in the administration’s response to the 2020 election. A report by a three-member panel of the D.C. Board on Professional Responsibility said that Clark “attempted dishonesty and did so with truly extraordinary recklessness.”

Financial Struggles

Giuliani reached a last-minute deal in his bankruptcy case in August. After his bankruptcy case in Washington was dismissed, the two election workers filed a motion seeking control over his assets. According to the filing, Giuliani disclosed that his New York apartment was valued at $5.6 million and his Florida condo at $3.5 million. He also testified that the Trump 2020 campaign and Republican National Committee owed him “about $2 million.” The filing repeatedly noted Giuliani’s refusal to cooperate with court orders. In his financial filings, Giuliani said he had about $94,000 cash on hand at the end of May, while his company, Giuliani Communications, had about $237,000 in the bank. A main source of income for the 80-year-old former mayor has been a retirement account with a balance of just over $1 million in May, down from nearly $2.5 million in 2022.

Bottom Line

The disbarment of Rudy Giuliani in Washington is a significant development, marking another chapter in the legal and financial struggles of the former Trump adviser. His actions during the 2020 election have had profound consequences, not only for his legal career but also for his reputation. What are your thoughts on this matter? Feel free to share this article with your friends. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which takes place every day at 6pm.