The New York State Bar Association could expel Rudy Giuliani for his comments to supporters of President Donald Trump before the U.S. Capitol was violently attacked on January 6th.
On Monday, the organization that it has opened an inquiry into whether Giuliani should remain a member.
The New York State Bar Association is now considering removing Giuliani.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) January 11, 2021
New York State Bar Association Launches Investigation
According to the New York State Bar Association’s bylaws, “no person who advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States” can remain a member.
The group is a voluntary membership organization that originated in 1876. No longer being a member is not the same as being disbarred, and Giuliani could still practice law.
Hours before the angry mob stormed the Capitol walls, Trump’s personal attorney, Rudolph Giuliani, addressed a crowd of thousands at the White House, reiterating baseless claims of widespread election fraud in the presidential election and the Georgia U.S. Senate runoffs.
— New York State Bar Association (@NYSBA) January 11, 2021
The bar association said the former New York City mayor will be given due process and an opportunity to give his side of how events unfolded.
Giuliani is President Trump’s personal lawyer and has been the lead attorney for President Trump’s claims about election fraud.
The bar association said hundreds of complaints have come in regarding Giuliani’s attempt to prove Trump’s fraud claims.
“If we're wrong, we will be made fools of, but if we're right a lot of them will go to jail,” Mr. Giuliani said. “Let's have trial by combat.”
— New York State Bar Association (@NYSBA) January 11, 2021
Rudy: ‘Let’s Have Trial By Combat’
Speaking to Trump supporters at the massive Washington, D.C. rally on January 6th, Giuliani told the crowd, “If we’re wrong, we will be made fools of, but if we’re right, a lot of them will go to jail.”
“Let’s have trial by combat,” Giuliani added.
Watch Giuliani’s speech here:
According to the bar association, Giuliani’s words “quite clearly were intended to encourage Trump supporters unhappy with the election’s outcome to take matters into their own hands.”
For his part, Giuliani claimed he was referencing the popular HBO television show “Game of Thrones.”
The NYSBA strongly condemned the violent uprising that occurred at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, orchestrated by individuals bent on subverting the will of the voters by disrupting the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.https://t.co/2yesbOntIb
— New York State Bar Association (@NYSBA) January 11, 2021
‘Nothing Short Of An Attempted Coup’
The bar association strongly condemned the Capitol attack, calling it “nothing short of an attempted coup, intended to prevent the peaceful transition of power.”
“We cannot stand idly by and allow those intent on rending the fabric of our democracy to go unchecked,” the organization said in a statement.