Rudy Giuliani is suspended from practicing law in Washington DC after New York court strips him of his license for 'making demonstrably false' statements about the election
An appeals court has suspended Rudy Giuliani from practicing law in Washington D.C. after he temporarily lost his license in New York for making 'demonstrably false' statements in court regarding the 2020 election.
The Washington court suspended Giuliani, 77, from working as an attorney in the city 'pending final disposition' of his New York case, according to disciplinary court records obtained by CNN.
Giuliani had his law license suspended last month by a New York appellate court for making 'demonstrably false and misleading statements' while pushing Donald Trump's election fraud claims and 'threatening public interest'.
An appeals court has suspended Rudy Giuliani from practicing law in Washington D.C. after he temporarily lost his license in New York
The Washington court suspended Giuliani from working as an attorney in the city 'pending final disposition' of his New York case
The DC court suspended Giuliani's license under D.C. Bar Rule XI for 'reciprocal discipline' which reads that attorneys can face discipline in Washington for facing disciplinary action in another state or jurisdiction.
'Upon learning that an attorney subject to the disciplinary jurisdiction of this Court has been disciplined by another disciplining court, Disciplinary Counsel shall obtain a certified copy of the disciplinary order and file it with this Court,' Section 11 of D.C. Bar Rule XI reads.
'In addition, any attorney subject to the disciplinary jurisdiction of this Court, upon being subjected to professional disciplinary action by another disciplining court, shall promptly inform Disciplinary Counsel of such action in writing.'
The order also notes that annual reports on the status of the disciplinary proceedings in New York must be filed.
D.C. Bar rules note that any suspended attorney may be required to provide 'proof of rehabilitation' as a condition of reinstatement.
Giuliani was an inactive member of the D.C. Bar when he was suspended on Wednesday and records show he was in good standing.
In its 33-page decision, the New York appellate court wrote: '[W]e conclude that there is uncontroverted evidence 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.'
It claimed that the former New York mayor threatened 'public interest' in his capacity as Trump's personal attorney and insisted his actions 'warrant interim suspension from the practice of law.'
Giuliani was an inactive member of the D.C. when he was suspended on Wednesday and bar records show he was in good standing. He is pictured during a "Save America Rally" near the White House before the deadly riots on January 6
Giuliani was one of the figures in Trump's inner circle who led the former president's legal challenge to the 2020 presidential election results
Giuliani also faces legal trouble after the FBI seized 18 electronic devices when they raided Giuliani's New York City home and office in May
UNREDACTED: The 18 electronic devices seized from his Upper East Side home belonged to both Giuliani and those who worked for him, according to an unsealed in a Manhattan Federal Court filing made public last month
Giuliani was one of the figures in Trump's inner circle who led the former president's legal challenge to the 2020 presidential election results.
The court said Giuliani made numerous false statements about the voting in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania, including that hundreds of thousands of absentee ballots or votes, including from dead people, had been improperly counted.
He argued the vote was riddled with fraud and claimed voting machines had been rigged in favor of Joe Biden.
'We find that there is evidence of continuing misconduct, the underlying offense is incredibly serious, and the uncontroverted misconduct in itself will likely result in substantial permanent sanctions', the court said.
Giuliani was admitted to the state bar in New York in 1969 and had a prominent legal career before joining Trump's team – including working in the Justice Department under Ronald Reagan.
He was named U.S. Attorney in Manhattan in 1983 where he remained through 1989 before running and becoming Mayor of New York City.
The New York State Bar Association announced January 11, 2021 that it was launching an investigation into whether Giuliani's membership should be revoked, noting his comments on January 6 to a crowd of Trump supporters before they stormed the Capitol.
Although removal from the Bar Association membership does not disbar Giuliani, the ruling in New York does stop him from practicing law in the Empire State.
Giuliani is also facing a slew of legal troubles stemming from his involvement with the Trump administration – specifically his foreign dealings with Ukraine.
The FBI seized 18 electronic devices when they raided Giuliani's New York City home and office in May, court documents unsealed last month revealed.
The devices that were seized from his Upper East Side home belonged to both Giuliani and those who worked for him, according to Manhattan Federal Court filing recently made public.
Details about the number of devices seized were previously redacted in a letter dated April 29 that was sent by prosecutors to US District Judge Paul Oetken.
Prosecutors had written to the judge asking for a special master - an independent person - to be appointed to determine whether any materials found on the devices may be subject to attorney-client privilege.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are investigating the former New York City mayor's dealings with Ukrainian oligarchs while working for then-President Trump.
They are specifically examining Giuliani's interactions with Ukrainian figures and whether he violated a federal law that governs lobbying on behalf of foreign countries or entities without registering with the U.S. government.
The unredacted version of the filing sheds new light on the FBI's investigative steps.
It detailed how agents had already obtained a secret search warrant back in 2019 for Giuliani's iCloud account.
Giuliani, a Republican who represented Trump in the special counsel's Russia investigation, has not been charged with a crime.
He has said his activities in Ukraine were conducted on behalf of Trump.
At the time, Giuliani was leading a campaign to press Ukraine for an investigation into Joe Biden and his son Hunter before being elected president
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