Giuliani Is Target Of Georgia Election Grand Jury Probe, Lawyer Says

Topline

Rudy Giuliani has been informed he’s a target of a Georgia grand jury probe into election interference, his attorney told the New York Times Tuesday, as part of an investigation into former President Donald Trump’s post-election conduct.

Key Facts

Giuliani’s lawyer, Robert Costello, told the Times prosecutors said Giuliani was a target of the investigation, launched by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) in February 2021.

Giuliani is supposed to testify before the special grand jury on Monday in Atlanta, according to the Times.

Costello said the former New York mayor would likely respond to questions about his interactions with Trump by invoking attorney-client privilege.

Costello confirmed the Times report in a comment to Forbes.

Crucial Quote

“If these people think he’s going to talk about conversations between him and President Trump, they’re delusional,” Costello told the New York Times.

Tangent

The news comes the same day a federal judge ruled Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) must also appear before the Georgia grand jury after Graham had tried to argue his role as a senator provided him immunity from testifying. The panel has subpoenaed several others close to Trump, including conservative legal scholar John Eastman, and Trump-allied lawyers Jenna Ellis, Cleta Mitchell and Kenneth Chesebro.

Key Background

Giuliani, who played a major role in Trump’s efforts to peddle false claims of a rigged election, is under investigation for spreading false allegations of voter fraud to state lawmakers in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. Giuliani perpetuated these conspiracies to lawmakers in several states in the weeks after the election. A judge in Fulton County, Georgia, last week ordered Giuliani to appear before the jury this week after he had attempted to push back the date and appear via video because he claimed a medical issue prevented him from traveling. The panel issued a subpoena for Giuliani to testify in July, which he unsuccessfully attempted to block. The special grand jury could take a year to complete its probe, after which it plans to issue a report that could recommend criminal charges, though a separate grand jury would need to indict Trump or any others involved. The Times reported in June the panel’s prosecutors had asked other witnesses about Giuliani’s meetings with state lawmakers after the 2020 presidential election. The House January 6 committee has also focused on Giuliani’s post-election behavior, sharing several clips during the panel’s public hearings of the former New York mayor appearing before Georgia lawmakers and promoting false claims Trump actually won the state of Georgia in 2020.

Further Reading

Giuliani Is Told He Is a Target of Trump Election Investigation in Georgia (New York Times)

Lindsey Graham Must Testify Before Georgia Grand Jury Investigating Trump, Judge Says (Forbes)

Giuliani at Center of Georgia’s Trump Investigation (New York Times)