[ad_1]
Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s personal lawyer who championed the former president’s bogus election fraud claims, turned himself in to authorities in Georgia on Wednesday to face racketeering charges alleging he meddled in the state’s 2020 presidential election, according to his lawyers and court records.
“I’m going to Fulton County to comply with the law, which I always do,” he told reporters before leaving for Georgia. “I don’t know if I plea today but if I do I plead not guilty.”
He was booked at the Fulton County Jail in the mid-afternoon, court records show. A judge signed off on a $150,000 bond agreement Giuliani’s lawyers worked out with prosecutors.
Giuliani was expected to be fingerprinted and photographed while at the jail.
“I get photographed, isn’t that nice? A mugshot for the mayor who probably put the worst criminal of the 20th century in jail,” Giuliani complained to reporters when he left his apartment.
His arraignment is expected in the next week or two and may take place virtually.
Giuliani and Trump both face 13 counts, more than the other 17 defendants in the case.
The former New York City mayor has maintained his innocence, and claimed the only thing he’s guilty of was zealously advocating for his client.
“I never thought I’d ever get indicted for being a lawyer,” Giuliani said on his radio show last week.
Trump has said he will surrender at the Atlanta jail Thursday.
Giuliani is being represented by New York-based attorney John Esposito, a former Manhattan assistant district attorney.
The indictment in Fulton County alleges that Giuliani was a key part of a criminal conspiracy, pressing election officials in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania to act on voting fraud claims that he was repeatedly told were false. Giuliani was also charged with promoting false claims that voting machines were rigged, and making false claims in sworn legal filings.
Additionally, the indictment singles out false claims Giuliani made about Georgia election worker Ruby Freeman, who was targeted with death threats and harassed as a result of the phony allegations.
The main charge against Giuliani — racketeering — is similar to a federal law he used with great success when he was U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Giuliani predicted Wednesday that he will be vindicated. “This will be proven to be like all the rest, a complete hoax and a lie,” he said.
Giuliani appears to be one of the six co-conspirators in special counsel Jack Smith’s federal criminal case against Trump. At his arraignment in that case, Trump pleaded not guilty. Giuliani, who hasn’t been charged, has denied any wrongdoing.
Brittany Kubicko, Rebecca Shabad, Adam Reiss, Tom Winter, Jonathan Dienst and Vaughn Hillyard contributed.
[ad_2]
Source link