Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and federal prosecutor, has suffered a significant blow to his legal career with the District of Columbia Court of Appeals ordering his disbarment. This decision comes on the heels of his disbarment in New York state earlier this year.
Giuliani’s law license in the District of Columbia had been suspended since summer 2021, but the latest ruling marks a more permanent and severe penalty. The court’s one-page decision did not provide detailed reasoning for the disbarment, but it is likely linked to his actions during his representation of former President Donald Trump in the aftermath of the 2020 election.
In July, the New York appeals court that disbarred Giuliani noted that he had spread “demonstrably false and misleading statements” to various audiences, including courts, lawmakers, and voters, in his efforts to overturn the election results. The court described these actions as “uncontroverted evidence” of his misconduct.
The District of Columbia Bar’s Board on Professional Responsibility had recommended Giuliani’s disbarment in June, citing his failure to provide any factual basis for his claims of election impropriety. The board concluded that his opinions on the matter did not meet the necessary standards for filing a lawsuit.
Giuliani’s involvement in Trump’s election challenges has led to a multitude of legal troubles. He has been ordered to pay a substantial sum of $148 million in damages to two election workers in Georgia, who successfully sued him for defamation. Additionally, he faces indictments in Arizona and Georgia related to his alleged role in the plot to overturn the 2020 election, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
