This article was originally posted on 07/28/22 and has since been updated on 08/18/22 with new information regarding Rudy Giuliani, the criminal investigation, and potential election interference.
Rudy Giuliani was just informed that he was a target, the New York Times writes, in a “wide-ranging criminal investigation” into election interference in Georgia. As Donald Trump‘s former personal attorney, Giuliani, 78, made persistent and dedicated efforts to keep the twice-impeached president, 76, in power, the publication reports. In the inquiry being conducted by Fani T. Willis (the district attorney of Fulton County, GA), Giuliani has become a notable figure in recent weeks.
While Giuliani has been identified as a “target,” the NYT explains that this doesn’t mean he’s bound to be “indicted,” but rather, prosecutors believe an indictment is “possible based on evidence they have seen up to that point.” One of Giuliani’s lawyers, Robert Costello, confirmed in an interview earlier this week that he was notified of his client being a “target.”
Rudy Giuliani said Wednesday that he had “satisfied his obligation” after facing hours of questioning before a special grand jury in Atlanta. Prosecutors are investigating attempts by former President Donald Trump and others to overturn his 2020 election defeat in Georgia. pic.twitter.com/OvKFmQFIbd
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 18, 2022
This occurred on the same day that another Trump ally, Senator Lindsey Graham’s efforts were rejected by a federal judge. Graham attempted avoiding giving testimony before the special grand jury that is currently hearing evidence in the case in Atlanta.
Giuliani spent nearly six hours on August 17th in an Atlanta courthouse before the special grand jury. His attorney, Costello, declined to indicate whether his client, USA Today writes, truly “invoked his right against self-incrimination after being designated by Fulton County prosecutors as a target of the inquiry.” Costello said,”It was cordial,” While Giuliani’s session concluded, it became publicly known that Republican Governor Brian Kemp was also subpoenaed in the same investigation. His attorneys, the publication added, are trying to “squash that court order.”
A few weeks back, Giuliani was ordered by a New York Judge to testify on August 9th as a witness before the Fulton County, GA grand jury (that is currently investigating Trump’s efforts to undermine and sabotage the 2020 election.) Giuliani was also subpoenaed earlier this month. This most recent order came after the former New York City mayor did not appear at a hearing in New York regarding blocking the subpoena.
Rudy Giuliani will be testifying in Georgia next month, in the investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. https://t.co/pG81uWlzjm
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) July 21, 2022
Giuliani recently subpoenaed along with other several state officials who have appeared before the special grand jury. This is occurring, as CNN reports, while Fulton County District Attorney Willis leads the investigation analyzing the former president’s actions in the state of Georgia. Those who were subpoenaed this month include Sen. Graham and Trump’s other former legal advisers, including John Eastman, Cleta Mitchell, Jenna Ellis and Kenneth Chesebro.
JUST IN: A New York Supreme Court Justice has ordered Rudy GIULIANI to appear for testimony before the Fulton County Grand Jury on August 9, per a filing by DA Fani Willis this morning.https://t.co/eyqCAwM8AN pic.twitter.com/R3dHBpgW07
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 20, 2022
Willis indicated in court papers on July 28th that Giuliani had been served with the order to appear. The official order was issued by Judge Thomas Farber in Giuliani’s home state.
This article was updated on 08/13/22 with the information below:
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Giuliani reportedly was not cleared for air travel following his recent heart surgery – which involved him having some stents implanted – resulting in him putting in a bid to postpone his appearance before a special grand jury in Atlanta to mid-September. However, his bid was rejected by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert C.I. McBurney on Tuesday, August 9th. He was therefore still expected to attend the hearing, which was scheduled for August 17th, with the judge saying that he would have to find some other way to get to Atlanta that doesn’t involve getting on a plane. Yikes!
McBurney reportedly even gave some alternative transport suggestions, noting that it was a mere “13-hour” drive from New York to Atlanta, and Giuliani had “plenty of time to make the trip.” And if he didn’t want to drive himself, McBurney also suggested that he could get on “a train, on a bus or Uber or whatever,” and there was no excuse for him to not attend the hearing.
“I’m confident he can figure out a way — short of a Greyhound — to get him to Atlanta,” McBurney reportedly said during a hearing with Giuliani’s lawyers and state prosecutors on August 9th. “Do it in 3 legs. Do you know folks in DC? Spend the night there.” We think that’s his way of saying that there are *no* excuses for missing it!
From our Fulton County court correspondent, @annambower, here’s a detailed—and highly amusing—account of Tuesday’s hearing regarding whether @RudyGiuliani needs to show up for his big date with the special purpose grand jury: https://t.co/qkWh98yxto
— Benjamin Wittes (@benjaminwittes) August 12, 2022
Perhaps McBurney was less willing to accept Giuliani’s bid to have the hearing postponed because of the recent evidence brought forward by prosecutors, which included documents showing that Giuliani purchased airline tickets to Rome, Italy, and Zurich, Switzerland for flights between July 22nd and July 29th; both of which were *after* his surgery.
Prosecutors also shared a screenshot of a tweet from August 1st that showed Giuliani in New Hampshire – although Giuliani’s lawyer, William Thomas Jr., said that he traveled there “by a private car in which he was the passenger.” So by that logic, McBurney didn’t see why Giuliani couldn’t do the same for the hearing! We can’t wait for more updates on what happened in the court room on August 17th!
