Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks to media outside his apartment building after suspension of his law license in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., June 24, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
NEW YORK 鈥� Rudy Giuliani鈥檚 New York law license was suspended on Thursday, after a state appeals court found he had lied in arguing that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from his client, former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Giuliani, 77, a former U.S. Attorney in Manhattan and New York City mayor, was punished for making 鈥渄emonstrably false and misleading鈥� statements that widespread voter fraud undermined the election, which Democrat Joe Biden won.
Citing the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, the Appellate Division said Giuliani鈥檚 eagerness to trumpet false claims 鈥渋mmediately threatens the public interest鈥� and could erode public confidence in the election process, a hallmark of American democracy, as well as the legal profession.
鈥淭his country is being torn apart by continued attacks on the legitimacy of the 2020 election and of our current president, Joseph R. Biden,鈥� the court said.
鈥淲here, as here, the false statements are being made by (Giuliani), acting with the authority of being an attorney, and using his large megaphone, the harm is magnified.鈥�
Speaking to reporters outside his home on Manhattan鈥檚 Upper East Side, a combative Giuliani called the suspension 鈥渁 one-sided decision not based on evidence.鈥�
The Republican also blamed Democrats for his growing legal troubles, including over his dealings in Ukraine, and he said dozens of witnesses could back up his election fraud claims.
鈥淚 fight back. That鈥檚 what I do,鈥� Giuliani said. 鈥淚 go to court and I prove what I鈥檓 telling you in court. There are appellate courts. This isn鈥檛 yet a dictatorship.鈥�
Trump has repeatedly made the false claim that he defeated Biden.
In a statement, Trump expressed disbelief that Giuliani could lose his law license for 鈥渇ighting what has already been proven to be a Fraudulent Election.鈥�
The appeals court said Giuliani鈥檚 temporary suspension could become permanent after a hearing by the attorney grievance committee that recommended it.
John Leventhal and Barry Kamins, two lawyers for Giuliani, said they were disappointed with the suspension but believed that after a hearing he would be reinstated as 鈥渁 valued member of the legal profession that he has served so well.鈥�
鈥業ncredibly serious鈥�
Giuliani鈥檚 other legal problems include a $1.3 billion lawsuit where Dominion Voting Systems accused him of defamation for claiming its machines helped flip votes to Biden from Trump.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are separately examining Giuliani鈥檚 dealings in Ukraine, including whether he violated lobbying laws while working as Trump鈥檚 lawyer.
Eighteen devices, including cellphones and computers were seized in April 28 raids of Giuliani鈥檚 home and office for the Ukraine probe. Giuliani has denied wrongdoing.
The appeals court said Giuliani made numerous false statements about voting in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania, including over the counting of absentee ballots.
It highlighted a Pennsylvania court hearing on Nov. 17 where Giuliani alleged widespread voter fraud, though his formal written complaint on Trump鈥檚 behalf made no mention of it.
The court also criticized Giuliani鈥檚 unsubstantiated claims of voting by dead people, including the boxing heavyweight champion Joe Frazier, who died in 2011.
鈥淭here is evidence of continuing misconduct, the underlying offense is incredibly serious, and the uncontroverted misconduct in itself will likely result in substantial permanent sanctions,鈥� the court said.
Though the court rejected Giuliani鈥檚 claim that the grievance committee violated his free speech rights, the suspension does not muzzle his ability to speak publicly.
That contrasts with Twitter鈥檚 permanent ban and Facebook鈥檚 two-year suspension of Trump from their respective platforms.
Brian Faughnan, a Tennessee lawyer specializing in attorney disciplinary proceedings, said suspensions such as Giuliani鈥檚 often go to lawyers who commit crimes or stole client money.
Giuliani received his law license in 1969, and as New York City mayor won wide praise for his response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
He began representing Trump in April 2018 as federal Special Counsel Robert Mueller was probing Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.