Career Timeline of Rudy Giuliani: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Rudy Giuliani built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Rudy Giuliani is an American politician and disbarred lawyer notable for his tenure as the 107th Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001. Prior to his mayoral role, he held positions as the United States Associate Attorney General (1981-1983) and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York (1983-1989).
1968: Volunteered for Robert F. Kennedy
In 1968, Rudy Giuliani volunteered for Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign.
1975: Switched Party Registration
In 1975, Rudy Giuliani switched his party registration from Democratic to Independent during recruitment for a position in Washington, D.C.
1977: Practiced Law at Patterson, Belknap, Webb and Tyler
From 1977, Rudy Giuliani practiced law at the Patterson, Belknap, Webb and Tyler law firm.
1981: Appointed Associate Attorney General
In 1981, Rudy Giuliani became the United States Associate Attorney General.
1981: Ended Time at Patterson, Belknap, Webb and Tyler
In 1981, Rudy Giuliani left Patterson, Belknap, Webb and Tyler law firm.
1983: Appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
In 1983, Rudy Giuliani became the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
February 25, 1985: Mafia Commission Trial Begins
On February 25, 1985, the Mafia Commission Trial began, with Rudy Giuliani indicting eleven organized crime figures.
November 19, 1986: End of Mafia Commission Trial
On November 19, 1986, the Mafia Commission Trial ended.
January 13, 1987: Sentencing in Mafia Commission Trial
On January 13, 1987, three heads of the Five Families were sentenced to 100 years in prison as a result of the Mafia Commission Trial.
January 1989: Resignation as U.S. Attorney
In January 1989, Rudy Giuliani resigned as U.S. Attorney as the Reagan administration ended. He faced criticism for his handling of cases and accusations of pursuing political ambitions through prosecutions.
September 1989: Wins Republican Primary for NYC Mayor
In September 1989, Rudy Giuliani won the Republican Party primary election against Ronald Lauder, marked by accusations that Giuliani was not a true Republican.
1989: Indictment of Michael Milken
In 1989, Rudy Giuliani charged Michael Milken under the RICO Act with 98 counts of racketeering and fraud, leading to a highly publicized case.
1989: Left U.S. Attorney Post
In 1989, Rudy Giuliani concluded his service as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
1989: Mayoral Campaign
In 1989, Rudy Giuliani ran his mayoral campaign. He sought the endorsement of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson during the campaign.
May 1990: Joins Anderson Kill Olick & Oshinsky
In May 1990, Rudy Giuliani joined the law firm Anderson Kill Olick & Oshinsky in New York City after leaving White & Case.
1991: Crime Rates Drop
In 1991, crime rates started to drop in New York City under previous mayor David Dinkins.
1993: Base Vote Maintained
In 1993, Rudy Giuliani maintained his base of white ethnic and Catholic and Jewish voters from 1993.
1993: Elected Mayor of New York City
In 1993, Rudy Giuliani was elected Mayor of New York City after campaigning on a "tough on crime" platform.
1994: Mayor of New York City
In 1994, Rudy Giuliani served as mayor of New York City, starting his first term.
1995: Pataki becomes governor
In 1995, with George Pataki becoming governor, the positions of both mayor and governor were held simultaneously by Republicans for the first time since John Lindsay and Nelson Rockefeller.
1996: Bratton Featured on Time Magazine
In 1996, Bill Bratton was featured on the cover of Time magazine, leading to his departure as Giuliani was intolerant of his celebrity.
September 9, 1997: Ruth Messinger Wins Democratic Primary
On September 9, 1997, Ruth Messinger won the Democratic primary against Al Sharpton.
October 1997: High Approval Rating Before Election
In late October 1997, Rudy Giuliani had a 68 percent approval rating, with 70 percent of New Yorkers satisfied with life in the city.
1997: Re-elected as Mayor
In 1997, Rudy Giuliani was re-elected as the Mayor of New York City.
November 1998: Moynihan Announces Retirement
In November 1998, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan announced his retirement, prompting Rudy Giuliani to express interest in running for the open Senate seat in 2000.
1998: Domestic Partnership Benefits
In 1998, Rudy Giuliani codified local law granting all city employees equal benefits for their domestic partners.
April 1999: Forms Senate Exploratory Committee
In April 1999, Rudy Giuliani formed an exploratory committee in connection with his Senate run.
January 2000: Polling Shows Lead Over Clinton
By January 2000, polling for the Senate race showed Rudy Giuliani nine points ahead of Hillary Clinton.
May 3, 2000: Public Acknowledgment of Judith Nathan
On May 3, 2000, Rudy Giuliani publicly acknowledged Judith Nathan as his "very good friend." This was the first time Giuliani publicly addressed his relationship with Nathan.
October 2000: Considered Removing Term Limits
In October 2000, Rudy Giuliani considered supporting city council efforts to remove their own term limits, though was not in favor of ending consecutive mayoral term limits.
2000: Appointed Hauer to Emergency Management
From 1996 to 2000, Jerome Hauer served under Giuliani before being appointed by him as New York City's first director of emergency management.
2000: Crime Decline Continues
Since 2000, policing resulted in New York's continuing crime decline.
2001: Ineligible for Third Term
In 2001, Rudy Giuliani was ineligible to run for a third term as mayor due to term limits.
2001: End of Mayoral Term
In 2001, Rudy Giuliani's service as mayor of New York City concluded.
January 1, 2002: Bloomberg Takes Office
On January 1, 2002, Michael Bloomberg, endorsed by Giuliani, took office as mayor of New York City.
2002: Founded Giuliani Partners
In 2002, Rudy Giuliani founded a security consulting business called Giuliani Partners.
2002: Giuliani Forms Security Consulting Business
In 2002, after leaving the New York City mayor's office, Rudy Giuliani founded Giuliani Partners LLC, a security consulting business that has been described as a lobbying entity capitalizing on his name recognition.
2004: Giuliani and Pataki instrumental in bringing the 2004 Republican National Convention to New York City.
In 2004, Giuliani and Pataki were instrumental in bringing the 2004 Republican National Convention to New York City.
2004: Giuliani Reportedly Top Choice for Secretary of Homeland Security
In 2004, after campaigning for George W. Bush, Rudy Giuliani was reportedly the top choice for Secretary of Homeland Security, but he declined due to concerns about his past and recommended Bernard Kerik instead.
2005: Joined Bracewell & Giuliani
In 2005, Rudy Giuliani joined a law firm, which was then renamed Bracewell & Giuliani.
2005: Giuliani Joins Bracewell & Patterson LLP
In 2005, Rudy Giuliani joined the law firm of Bracewell & Patterson LLP (renamed Bracewell & Giuliani LLP) as a name partner and basis for the expanding firm's new New York office. He also brought Marc Mukasey into the firm.
May 24, 2006: Giuliani Resigns from Iraq Study Group
On May 24, 2006, Rudy Giuliani resigned from the Iraq Study Group (ISG), citing prior time commitments, after missing all meetings. It was later revealed that fundraising and potential presidential aspirations contributed to his decision.
June 2006: Giuliani starts Solutions America website
In June 2006, Rudy Giuliani launched a website called Solutions America to support the election of Republican candidates across the country.
November 2006: Giuliani Announces Exploratory Committee for 2008 Presidential Run
In November 2006, Rudy Giuliani announced the formation of an exploratory committee to consider running for president in 2008.
2006: Giuliani Acts as Lead Counsel for Purdue Pharma
In 2006, Rudy Giuliani acted as the lead counsel and lead spokesman for Bracewell & Giuliani client Purdue Pharma during their negotiations with federal prosecutors over charges that the pharmaceutical company misled the public about OxyContin's addictive properties. The agreement reached resulted in Purdue Pharma and some of its executives paying $634.5 million in fines.
January 2007: Giuliani a consistent cheerleader for the Iraq War
In January 2007, Newsweek described Giuliani as "one of the most consistent cheerleaders for the president's handling of the war in Iraq."
February 2007: Giuliani Confirms Presidential Candidacy
In February 2007, Rudy Giuliani officially confirmed his candidacy for president on Larry King Live.
June 2007: Giuliani Supports Iraq War
As of June 2007, Rudy Giuliani remained a staunch supporter of both the basis for the invasion of Iraq and its execution, distinguishing him from many other presidential candidates.
June 2007: Giuliani Steps Down as CEO and Chairman of Giuliani Partners
In June 2007, Rudy Giuliani stepped down as CEO and chairman of Giuliani Partners, although this action was not made public until December 4, 2007; he maintained his equity interest in the firm.
November 7, 2007: Giuliani Receives Endorsement from Pat Robertson
On November 7, 2007, Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign received an endorsement from evangelist Pat Robertson, potentially signaling support from evangelicals despite Giuliani's stances on social issues.
December 4, 2007: Giuliani's Resignation Becomes Public
On December 4, 2007, it was publicly announced that Rudy Giuliani had stepped down as CEO and chairman of Giuliani Partners in June 2007.
January 8, 2008: Giuliani Finishes Fourth in New Hampshire Primary
On January 8, 2008, Rudy Giuliani finished fourth in the New Hampshire primary, receiving only 9 percent of the vote.
January 29, 2008: Giuliani Finishes Third in Florida Primary
On January 29, 2008, Rudy Giuliani finished third in the Florida Republican primary, with 15 percent of the vote.
June 2008: Giuliani Seeks to Retire Campaign Debt
In June 2008, with his campaign $3.6 million in debt, Rudy Giuliani proposed appearing at Republican fundraisers to allocate part of the proceeds to his campaign.
November 2008: Poll Shows Close Matchup with Paterson
In November 2008, a Siena College poll indicated that Rudy Giuliani would have a slight lead over Governor David Paterson in a hypothetical matchup, even though Paterson was popular among New Yorkers.
2008: Appearance Fees Dropped
Following the end of his presidential campaign in 2008, Giuliani's "high appearance fees dropped like a stone".
2008: Presidential Campaign
In 2008, Rudy Giuliani ran for the Republican Party's presidential nomination but withdrew after performing poorly in the primary election.
January 2009: Giuliani Delays Decision on Gubernatorial Run
In January 2009, Rudy Giuliani stated that he would delay his decision on whether to run for governor for another six to eight months, citing fairness to the current governor.
February 2009: Poll Shows Giuliani with Lead Over Paterson
In February 2009, a Siena College poll indicated that Governor Paterson was losing popularity and showed Rudy Giuliani with a fifteen-point lead in a hypothetical gubernatorial contest.
March 2009: Giuliani's Campaign Debt Remains High
By the end of March 2009, Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign debt was still $2.4 million in arrears, which was the largest remaining amount for any of the 2008 contenders.
August 2009: Conflicting Reports on Giuliani's Potential Run
By late August 2009, there were conflicting reports about whether Rudy Giuliani was likely to run for governor.
December 23, 2009: Giuliani Announces He Will Not Seek Office in 2010
On December 23, 2009, Rudy Giuliani announced that he would not seek any office in 2010 due to his commitments to Bracewell & Giuliani and Giuliani Partners, signaling a possible end to his political career.
2009: Giuliani Criticizes Obama Administration's Handling of Financial Crisis
In 2009, Rudy Giuliani criticized the Obama administration and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner for lacking executive competence in handling the 2007-2008 financial crisis.
2009: Giuliani Partners Announces Security Consulting Contract with Rio de Janeiro
In late 2009, Giuliani announced that Giuliani Partners had a security consulting contract with Rio de Janeiro, Brazil regarding the 2016 Summer Olympics.
2010: Giuliani Endorses Candidates
During the 2010 midterm elections, Rudy Giuliani endorsed and campaigned for Bob Ehrlich and Marco Rubio.
2010: Declined Governor Run
In 2010, Rudy Giuliani declined to run for New York governor.
2010: Possible Gubernatorial Bid
In 2010, Rudy Giuliani did not rule out a gubernatorial bid.
October 11, 2011: Giuliani Announces He Will Not Run for President
On October 11, 2011, Rudy Giuliani announced that he was not running for president, citing the challenge for a moderate to succeed in GOP primaries.
2011: Giuliani Advises Keiko Fujimori
In 2011, Giuliani advised Keiko Fujimori with her presidential campaign during the Peruvian general election.
2012: Declined Presidential Nomination
In 2012, Rudy Giuliani declined to run for the Republican presidential nomination and focused on his business firms.
2012: Possible Presidential Bid
In 2012, Rudy Giuliani did not rule out a presidential bid.
January 2016: Giuliani Leaves Bracewell LLP
In January 2016, Rudy Giuliani left the firm Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, which was then rebranded as Bracewell LLP.
January 2016: Giuliani Joins Greenberg Traurig
In January 2016, Rudy Giuliani moved to the law firm Greenberg Traurig, where he served as the global chairman for Greenberg's cybersecurity and crisis management group, as well as a senior advisor to the firm's executive chairman.
December 9, 2016: Giuliani Withdraws from Cabinet Consideration
On December 9, 2016, Donald Trump announced that Rudy Giuliani had removed his name from consideration for any Cabinet post in the incoming administration.
2016: Consulting Contract for Rio de Janeiro Olympics
In 2016, Giuliani Partners' security consulting contract with Rio de Janeiro, Brazil came into effect regarding the Summer Olympics.
2016: Advised Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign
In 2016, Rudy Giuliani advised Donald Trump during his presidential campaign.
2016: Giuliani Supports Donald Trump
In 2016, Rudy Giuliani supported Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election, giving a prime time speech at the Republican National Convention and appearing in ads.
January 12, 2017: Giuliani Named Informal Cybersecurity Advisor
On January 12, 2017, President-elect Trump named Rudy Giuliani his informal cybersecurity advisor.
January 2017: Giuliani Advises Trump on Executive Order 13769
In January 2017, Rudy Giuliani said he advised President Trump on matters relating to Executive Order 13769, which restricted entry to the U.S. for citizens of several Muslim-majority countries.
April 2018: Giuliani Joins Trump's Legal Team
In April 2018, Rudy Giuliani joined Donald Trump's legal team to deal with the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections.
April 2018: Giuliani Takes Leave of Absence from Greenberg Traurig
In April 2018, Rudy Giuliani took an unpaid leave of absence from Greenberg Traurig when he joined Donald Trump's legal defense team.
May 9, 2018: Giuliani Resigns from Greenberg Traurig
On May 9, 2018, Rudy Giuliani resigned from the law firm Greenberg Traurig.
November 2018: Creation of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
In November 2018, Trump created the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), effectively overshadowing Giuliani's informal cybersecurity advisory role.
2019: Giuliani Represents Alejandro Betancourt
In late 2019, Rudy Giuliani represented Venezuelan businessman Alejandro Betancourt, meeting with the Justice Department to ask not to bring charges against him.
January 2020: Giuliani Launches Podcast
In January 2020, Rudy Giuliani launched a podcast, Rudy Giuliani's Common Sense.
November 2020: Giuliani Leads Lawsuits Challenging 2020 Election Results
In November 2020, Trump put Giuliani in charge of lawsuits alleging voter irregularities in the 2020 United States presidential election. He led a legal team that made false assertions about an international Communist conspiracy, rigged voting machines, and polling place fraud.
November 17, 2020: Giuliani's First Day in Court Challenging Election Results
On November 17, 2020, Giuliani appeared in court representing Trump's campaign in Pennsylvania, misrepresenting his bar status and struggling with legal processes. He was accused of making "disgraceful" legal arguments.
November 21, 2020: Giuliani's Lawsuit in Pennsylvania Dismissed
On November 21, 2020, Giuliani's federal lawsuit against Pennsylvania was dismissed with prejudice. The judge cited "strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations" which were "unsupported by evidence".
December 2020: False Testimony to Georgia Lawmakers
In December 2020, Rudy Giuliani gave false testimony to Georgia lawmakers about election fraud, which was later listed in the August 14, 2023 indictment against him.
2020: Giuliani's Efforts to Subvert 2020 Election
In 2020, Rudy Giuliani engaged in efforts to subvert the election, which on July 2, 2024 led to his disbarment by a New York state appeals court.
2020: Involvement in 2020 Election Controversy
In 2020, Rudy Giuliani was involved in events related to the election in Arizona that led to later indictments in April 2024. These events include his involvement in contesting the election results.
2020: Giuliani's Actions in 2020 Presidential Election in Pennsylvania
In 2020, Rudy Giuliani was involved in making claims regarding the presidential election in Pennsylvania. These actions were considered to contain baseless claims in favor of Trump, and led to charges being filed against him in June 10, 2022.
2020: Actions Related to 2020 Election
In 2020, Rudy Giuliani's actions related to the United States presidential election were investigated, ultimately leading to the suspension of his law license in New York and Washington, D.C. in 2021.
2020: Actions related to 2020 Election results in Pennsylvania
In 2020, Rudy Giuliani's actions to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Pennsylvania led to the recommendation for his disbarment.
2020: Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election
On August 1, 2023, the Justice Department's special counsel investigating Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election charged Trump with four criminal counts related to those efforts.
January 8, 2021: Trump and Team Lost 63 Lawsuits; Giuliani Seeks Payment and Pardon
By January 8, 2021, Trump and his team had lost 63 lawsuits. Giuliani's associate requested $2.5 million and a pardon for him.
February 16, 2021: Giuliani Not Actively Involved in Trump's Legal Cases
As of February 16, 2021, Rudy Giuliani was reportedly not actively involved in any of Donald Trump's pending legal cases.
June 24, 2021: Giuliani's Law License Suspended in New York
On June 24, 2021, a New York appellate court suspended Rudy Giuliani's law license after finding "uncontroverted" evidence that he made false statements to courts, lawmakers, and the public regarding the 2020 election.
July 7, 2021: Giuliani's Law License Suspended in Washington, D.C.
On July 7, 2021, Rudy Giuliani's law license was also suspended in Washington, D.C., following the suspension of his license in New York due to false statements made regarding the 2020 election.
July 2021: Trump Didn't Give Giuliani Money
As of the end of July 2021, Trump had not given any of the money he fundraised for election-related legal fights to Giuliani.
September 10, 2021: Giuliani Banned from Fox News
On September 10, 2021, Fox News informed Giuliani that neither he nor his son Andrew would be permitted on the network for nearly three months.
October 2021: Trump Remarks on Paying Lawyers
In October 2021, Trump remarked, "I do pay my lawyers when they do a good job."
January 2022: Subpoena from the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack
In January 2022, Giuliani received a subpoena from the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack.
May 20, 2022: Giuliani Testifies Before House Select Committee on January 6 Attack
Responding to a January 2022 subpoena, Giuliani testified before the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack on May 20, 2022.
June 10, 2022: Ethics Charges Filed Against Giuliani by DC Bar
On June 10, 2022, the DC Bar's Office of Disciplinary Counsel filed charges against Rudy Giuliani with the DC Court of Appeals' Board on Professional Responsibility. The ethics charges concerned Giuliani's federal court filings regarding the 2020 presidential election in Pennsylvania, alleging that he made baseless claims in favor of Trump.
August 2022: SDNY Unlikely to Indict Giuliani for Ukraine Activities
In August 2022, The New York Times reported that the Southern District of New York (SDNY) was unlikely to indict Giuliani for his activities in Ukraine.
December 15, 2022: D.C. Bar Disciplinary Counsel Recommends Disbarment for Giuliani
On December 15, 2022, the D.C. Bar Disciplinary Counsel recommended that Rudy Giuliani be disbarred for violating rules of professional conduct by making false election fraud claims and attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Pennsylvania.
July 7, 2023: Hearing Committee Recommends Disbarment
On July 7, 2023, an ad hoc hearing committee of the Board on Professional Responsibility recommended that Rudy Giuliani be disbarred.
August 1, 2023: Trump Indicted, Giuliani Identified as 'Co-Conspirator 1'
On August 1, 2023, Trump was charged with four criminal counts related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, with Giuliani widely identified as the unnamed "Co-Conspirator 1" in the indictment.
August 14, 2023: Giuliani Indicted in Georgia Election Interference Case
On August 14, 2023, Rudy Giuliani, along with Donald Trump and 17 others, was indicted by a grand jury in Atlanta, Georgia, on 41 counts related to conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results in favor of Trump under state racketeering laws. Giuliani's false testimony about election fraud in December 2020 was cited in the indictment. His lawyer for the arraignment was Brian Tevis.
August 23, 2023: Giuliani Surrenders in Georgia
On August 23, 2023, Rudy Giuliani turned himself in at the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Georgia related to the indictment for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election.
April 2024: Giuliani Indicted in Arizona Election Case
In April 2024, Rudy Giuliani was among 18 people indicted on charges related to the 2020 election in Arizona.
May 21, 2024: Giuliani Pleads Not Guilty in Arizona Election Case
On May 21, 2024, Rudy Giuliani pleaded not guilty after being arraigned virtually in Maricopa County Superior Court on charges related to the 2020 election in Arizona. He was ordered to post a $10,000 bond and book himself into the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
May 31, 2024: Board Agrees to Disbar Giuliani
On May 31, 2024, the Board on Professional Responsibility agreed with the recommendation to disbar Rudy Giuliani.
July 2, 2024: Giuliani Disbarred in New York
On July 2, 2024, Rudy Giuliani was disbarred in the state of New York, following the suspension of his law license in June 2021 due to an investigation regarding his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
September 26, 2024: Giuliani Disbarred in District of Columbia
On September 26, 2024, Rudy Giuliani was disbarred in the District of Columbia under reciprocal discipline, following his disbarment in New York.
