From a compromising cameo in Borat to bizarre press conferences, Rudy Giuliani has recently made headlines for his part in spreading conspiracies of electoral fraud. This cheat sheet will give an insight into his history in US politics and role in the former Trump administration.
Background
Rudolph William Louis Giuliani is a politician and attorney who has served in Donald Trump’s personal legal team since 2018. He was also mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001. Like Trump, he is a New York-native and member of the Republican Party, but his entry into politics started long before the Trump presidency.
US Attorney for the Southern District of New York
From 1983 to 1989, Giuliani served as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, during which he prioritised prosecuting organised crime and corruption. He earned a reputation for being tough on crime and made a name for himself through his well-publicised trials.
In his most noted trial, Giuliani successfully convicted key members of New York City’s ‘Five Families’ for extortion, gambling and racketeering charges. His courageous effort to convict crime bosses gave Giuliani great public exposure, being credited for taking down the mafia.
Mayor of New York City
Serving as mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001, Giuliani focused on reducing crime and strengthening law enforcement. He cracked down on relatively minor offences, like graffiti, to demonstrate his tough stance on crime. New York crime rates fell dramatically during Giuliani’s time as mayor, with many praising his tough measures.
Giuliani’s term as mayor was particularly marked by the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. He was widely praised for his leadership after the attacks, regularly making public statements and coordinating the emergency response. His approval rating rose to 79% after the attacks, and he was nicknamed ‘America’s Mayor’, leading him to be named Time Magazine’s ‘Person of the Year’ in 2001. However, Giuliani was also criticised for a lack of preparedness before the terror attack, and for overstating his role in the response coordination for political gain.
Relationship with Donald Trump
As a vocal supporter of Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, Giuliani defended Trump against allegations of racism and sexual assault. He later joined President Trump’s personal legal team in 2018, aiding the President in several high-profile legal matters, most notably in the Ukraine scandal, which ultimately led to impeachment in 2020.
Election fraud claims in 2020
As the president’s personal lawyer, Giuliani filed lawsuits against several states, claiming electoral fraud in the 2020 presidential race. Giuliani’s vocal claims about alleged election fraud have been somewhat overshadowed by the oddity of his actions, including holding a bizarre press conference at a garden centre in Pennsylvania. These lawsuits have almost entirely been rejected as there has been no evidence of widespread election fraud.
Should we listen to Rudy Giuliani?
Rudy Giuliani started his career as an ambitious lawyer and political figure, earning the respect of the American people during his time as mayor. However, his loyalty to President Trump and odd public appearances have damaged his public image and attracted ridicule.
His dramatic downfall and irrational comments have made it difficult to take him seriously. Only time will tell whether his reputation is beyond repair.
For more information on this topic, head over to our dedicated section on US Politics.