Rudy Giuliani, Former Trump’s Lawyer Disbarred In New York

Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City and a once-famous prosecutor, has been disbarred in New York after being found guilty of making multiple false statements about the 2020 election.

The ruling, released on Tuesday by the New York Appellate Court, represents a tremendous fall from grace for Giuliani, who was once renowned as a tough US prosecutor and later acclaimed for his leadership in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks.

Giuliani rose to prominence as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he was known for taking on organised crime. His profile soared, culminating in his being chosen Time’s Person of the Year in 2001.

The 31-page ruling partly read; “Giuliani is disbarred from the practice of law, effective immediately, and until the further order of this Court, and his name stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law in the State of New York.

“The disciplinary charges stem from the allegations that respondent communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers, and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump campaign in connection with Trump’s failed effort at reelection in 2020.

“These false statements were made to improperly bolster respondent’s narrative that due to widespread voter fraud, victory in the 2020 United States presidential election was stolen from his client.”

Giuliani’s New York legal licence had already been revoked in June 2021 after the division ruled that his allegations of a stolen election from Donald Trump were a significant offence. The recent ruling by the New York Appellate Court on Tuesday, July 2, solidifies his disbarment.

This disbarment is a significant setback for Giuliani, who was previously hailed as a fierce prosecutor against organised crime and praised for his leadership in New York City following the 9/11 terror attacks.

Giuliani has likely endured far more consequences for his efforts to change the 2020 election results than Trump himself. He is also facing disbarment in Washington, where the D.C. Bar’s Board of Professional Responsibility recently recommended that Giuliani be disbarred.

Giuliani’s show was discontinued and he was suspended by WABC radio in May for his continued fabrications regarding the 2020 election, which may have exposed the station to legal risk.

Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, two poll workers from Georgia, were given a $148 million jury award when a federal judge held Guiliani accountable for falsely accusing them of election fraud—allegations that lacked any factual support.

Giuliani had wrongly claimed that the mother-daughter pair were passing around USB drives “like vials of heroin or cocaine” when, in reality, they were exchanging ginger mints, based on surveillance footage that had sparked conspiracy theorists online. Following the claims, the two became targets of numerous racist taunts and threats.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli