How could Rudy Giuliani being investigated affect Donald Trump?
The 45th President’s former attorney is the focus of a Georgia grand jury probe into attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election.
Rudy Giuliani is currently the subject of a special purpose grand jury investigation in Georgia in relation to allegations that former President Donald Trump and his associates may have violated election law.
Trump’s former attorney was involved in the attempts to challenge the result of the 2020 presidential election, despite no evidence being produced to support their wild claims. Giuliani becomes the first member of Trump’s inner circle to be informed that they are the target of an investigation regarding the election.
The investigation by the Georgia grand jury is distinct from another probe by the Justice Department into the attempts to allow Trump to cling to power after losing the election.
Will Giuliani answer questions about Trump in the investigation?
Many of the former President’s closest allies rose to prominence in the Trump White House in large part due to their unflinching loyalty to him. Giuliani was a key member of the legal team that attempted to litigate the result of the election, although they were defeated in nearly every courtroom where a challenge was brought.
Giuliani will appear before the special grand jury in an Atlanta courthouse on Wednesday but his lawyer, Robert Costello, has confirmed that his client would not be answering any questions on his business with Trump. He will likely attempt to invoke attorney-client privilege if asked about his relationship with the former President.
“If these people think he’s going to talk about conversations between him and President Trump, they’re delusional,” Costello said.
What is Rudy Giuliani accused of doing?
Trump’s former attorney is under investigation for his actions relating to the former President’s scheme to pressure Republican-held state legislatures to send a slate of fake electors to Congress. The electors must reflect the will of the people from the election, but Trump attempted to pressure officials into sending alternates who would submit a vote for him.
Georgia was one of the states most crucial in the 2020 race and one which Joe Biden won by a slim margin. Trump was caught on tape telling Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger that he needed to “find” enough votes that would allow Trump to overhaul Biden’s winning margin.
“I just want to find 11,780 votes,” Trump was heard to say in a conversation obtained by The Washington Post.
“You know what they did and you’re not reporting it,” Trump continued. “You know, that’s a criminal — that’s a criminal offense. And you know, you can’t let that happen. That’s a big risk to you.”
Giuliani not only trumpeted Trump’s false claims in public but is understood to have been involved in some of the behind-closed-doors efforts exposed in Georgia. He is also thought to be under investigation for propagating those false claims.