A New York Court suspended former New York City mayor and former top attorney for Donald Trump Rudy Giuliani’s ability to practice law in New York because of “false and misleading statements” regarding the 2020 election, reports CNBC
The suspension takes effect immediately and will remain in effect pending the outcome of a full formal hearing. Giuliani is also under criminal investigation in connection with his work in Ukraine.
His suspension was sought by the Attorney Grievance Committee for the First Judicial Department.
The court added that “interim suspension is a serious remedy, available only in situations where it is immediately necessary to protect the public.”
“We 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,” said the order.
The court added that Giuliani’s “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.”
“We conclude that respondent’s conduct immediately threatens the public interest and warrants interim suspension from the practice of law, pending further proceedings before the Attorney Grievance Committee,” said the court.
One of the instances sited by the court includes Giuliani’s claim that “dead people voted in Philadelphia.” Giuliani claimed that 8,021 dead people’s ballots were cast, “while also reporting the number as 30,000.”
“As the anecdotal poster child to prove this point, he repeatedly stated that famous heavyweight boxer Joe Frazier continued to vote years after he was dead and stated on November 7, 2020 ‘he is still voting here,’” said the court order.
“The public records submitted on this motion unequivocally show that respondent’s statement is false,” added the court. “Public records show that Pennsylvania formally cancelled Mr. Frazier’s eligibility to vote on February 8, 2012, three months after he died.”
“We are disappointed with the Appellate Division, First Department’s decision suspending Mayor Giuliani prior to being afforded a hearing on the issues that are alleged,” said Giuliani’s attorneys John Leventhal and Barry Kamins.
“This is unprecedented as we believe that our client does not pose a present danger to the public interest,” continued the attorneys. “We believe that once the issues are fully explored at a hearing Mr. Giuliani will be reinstated as a valued member of the legal profession that he has served so well in his many capacities for so many years.”
“The profession of law is a sacred and noble one,” said New York state Sen. Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan, who filed the complaint. “And there can be no room in the profession for those who seek to undermine and undo the rule of law as Rudy Giuliani has so flagrantly done.”
Discussion about this post