Rudolph Giuliani has officially been disbarred in New York, a consequence of his involvement in attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election on behalf of former President Donald Trump. The New York appeals court issued its order on Tuesday, stating that Giuliani had “flagrantly misused his prominent position as the personal attorney for former President Trump and his campaign” to baselessly challenge the electoral process.
A five-member panel expressed that the gravity of Giuliani’s misconduct could not be overstated. They noted that Giuliani “not only deliberately violated some of the most fundamental tenets of the legal profession, but he also actively contributed to the national strife that has followed the 2020 presidential election, for which he is entirely unrepentant.” Giuliani’s lawyer, Barry Kamins, mentioned that his client is disappointed and is considering appealing the decision.
The disbarment marks a significant decline for Giuliani, who had previously been a celebrated federal prosecutor and the mayor of New York City, especially noted for his leadership following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Following his term as mayor, Giuliani’s legal expertise was highly sought after, leading a law firm to adopt his name temporarily.
However, his fortunes changed drastically after he took on the role of spearheading Trump’s legal battles against Joe Biden’s victories in crucial states. Giuliani is also facing disbarment proceedings in Washington, where recommendations have been made to strip him of his license there as well. He has also been dealing with multiple legal troubles, including criminal charges in Georgia and Arizona and a $148 million defamation judgment for falsely accusing Georgia election workers of fraud.
The New York appeals court dismissed Giuliani’s argument that he had a “good faith basis” for his fraud claims, emphasizing that his actions constituted a pattern of misleading conduct intended to deceive. The case, titled In the Matter of Rudolph W. Giuliani, may set a precedent for other legal professionals who face consequences for their roles in the post-election controversies of 2020.