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 served as the United States Associate Attorney General (1981-1983) and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York (1983-1989). His legal career has been marked by disbarment.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1941: First Republican to Win Second Term Since La Guardia

Rudy Giuliani became the first registered Republican to win a second term as mayor while on the Republican line since Fiorello H. La Guardia in 1941.

1965: First Republican Mayor Since Lindsay

Rudy Giuliani became the first Republican elected mayor of New York City since John Lindsay in 1965.

December 8, 1980: Giuliani Switches to Republican Party

On December 8, 1980, one month after Ronald Reagan's election, Giuliani switched his party affiliation from Independent to Republican.

January 13, 1987: Sentencing of Mafia Heads

On January 13, 1987, three heads of the Five Families were sentenced to 100 years in prison due to Giuliani's prosecution as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

February 1987: Arrest of Richard Wigton

In February 1987, Giuliani, as U.S. Attorney, had officers handcuff veteran stock trader Richard Wigton of Kidder, Peabody & Co. and march him through the company's trading floor on suspicion of insider trading, though the charges were later dropped. He also had agents arrest Tim Tabor.

January 1989: Giuliani Resigned 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 was accused of using them to advance his political career. He subsequently joined White & Case as a partner in New York City.

September 1989: Giuliani won Republican Primary

In September 1989, Rudy Giuliani won the Republican Party primary election against Ronald Lauder in his first run for New York City mayor. The campaign was marked by claims that Giuliani was not a true Republican following an acrimonious debate.

1989: Giuliani charged Milken under the RICO Act

In 1989, Rudy Giuliani charged Michael Milken under the RICO Act with 98 counts of racketeering and fraud, leading to a highly publicized case where Milken was indicted by a grand jury on these charges.

May 1990: Giuliani Joined 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.

1993: Giuliani gained voters

In 1997, Giuliani maintained his base of white ethnic and Catholic and Jewish voters from 1993.

1994: Sicilian Mafia's Alleged Murder Contract

According to Giuliani, in 1994 the Sicilian Mafia allegedly offered $800,000 for his death during his first year as mayor of New York.

1994: Giuliani's First Year as Mayor

In 1994, Rudy Giuliani began his service as mayor of New York City, a role he would hold until 2001.

1995: Pataki becomes governor

In 1995, with George Pataki becoming governor, it was the first time the positions of both mayor and governor were held simultaneously by Republicans since John Lindsay and Nelson Rockefeller.

1996: CompStat Initiative Won Award

In 1996, the CompStat initiative, created by Bratton and Jack Maple, which used a computer-driven comparative statistical approach to mapping crime geographically and in terms of emerging criminal patterns, won the Innovations in Government Award from Harvard Kennedy School.

September 9, 1997: Messinger won Democratic Primary

On September 9, 1997, Ruth Messinger beat Al Sharpton in the Democratic primary to become Giuliani's opponent in the mayoral election.

October 1997: Giuliani's High Approval Rating

In late October 1997, a Quinnipiac University Polling Institute poll showed Giuliani with a 68 percent approval rating. Seventy percent of New Yorkers were satisfied with life in the city, and 64 percent said things were better than four years previously.

November 1998: Moynihan Announced His Retirement

In November 1998, four-term incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan announced his retirement, prompting Rudy Giuliani to express immediate interest in running for the open seat.

1998: City Employees Received Equal Benefits

In 1998, Rudy Giuliani codified local law by granting all New York City employees equal benefits for their domestic partners.

April 1999: Giuliani Formed Senate Run Committee

In April 1999, Rudy Giuliani formed an exploratory committee in connection with a potential Senate run.

January 2000: Giuliani Ahead of Clinton in Polls

By January 2000, polling for the Senate race showed Rudy Giuliani nine points ahead of Hillary Clinton, partly due to Clinton's campaign missteps.

April 2000: Clinton Gaining in Polls

By April 2000, reports showed Hillary Clinton gaining support, leading Giuliani in the polls by eight to ten points. Giuliani's mayorial duties prevented campaigning.

2000: Interest in Senate

In 2000, Rudy Giuliani considered running for U.S. Senate.

2001: End of Giuliani's Mayoral Term

In 2001, Rudy Giuliani concluded his term as mayor of New York City, having served since 1994.

2001: Term Limits

In 2001, Rudy Giuliani was ineligible to run for a third term as mayor due to term limits.

January 1, 2002: Bloomberg Took Office

On January 1, 2002, Michael Bloomberg, the Giuliani-endorsed Republican convert, took office as mayor of New York City, succeeding Rudy Giuliani.

2002: Giuliani Partners LLC Founded

In 2002, after leaving the New York City mayor's office, Rudy Giuliani founded a security consulting business, Giuliani Partners LLC, which has been described as a lobbying entity and has faced allegations regarding staff and client base.

2004: Giuliani declines Secretary of Homeland Security offer

After campaigning for Bush in the U.S. presidential election of 2004, Giuliani was considered for Secretary of Homeland Security but declined due to potential issues with his past, recommending Bernard Kerik instead; Kerik's nomination was later withdrawn.

2004: Giuliani endorses George W. Bush at Republican National Convention

In 2004, Giuliani and Pataki helped bring the Republican National Convention to New York City. Giuliani endorsed President George W. Bush for re-election, recalling the World Trade Center attack.

2005: Joins Bracewell & Patterson LLP

In 2005, Rudy Giuliani joined the law firm of Bracewell & Patterson LLP (renamed Bracewell & Giuliani LLP) as a name partner, establishing the firm's New York office. He brought Marc Mukasey, son of Attorney General Michael Mukasey, into the firm.

March 15, 2006: Congress forms Iraq Study Group

On March 15, 2006, Congress formed the Iraq Study Group (ISG), a bipartisan panel including Giuliani, to assess the Iraq War and make recommendations.

May 24, 2006: Giuliani resigns from Iraq Study Group

On May 24, 2006, after missing all of the group's meetings, Giuliani resigned from the Iraq Study Group, citing prior commitments and later suggesting his potential presidential run influenced the decision.

June 2006: Giuliani starts Solutions America website

In June 2006, Giuliani started a website called Solutions America to help elect Republican candidates across the nation.

November 2006: Giuliani announces exploratory committee for 2008 presidency

In November 2006, Giuliani announced the formation of an exploratory committee toward a run for the presidency in 2008.

2006: 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. The negotiations were over charges that Purdue Pharma misled the public about OxyContin's addictive properties. The agreement resulted in Purdue Pharma and some of its executives paying $634.5 million in fines.

January 2007: Giuliani described as Iraq War cheerleader

In January 2007, Newsweek described Giuliani as a consistent supporter of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq.

February 2007: Giuliani confirms presidential run on Larry King Live

In February 2007, Giuliani filed a "statement of candidacy" and confirmed on the television program Larry King Live that he was indeed running for president.

June 2007: Giuliani remains supporter of Iraq War

As of June 2007, Giuliani remained one of the few presidential candidates to unequivocally support both the basis for the invasion and the execution of the war in Iraq.

June 2007: Giuliani Steps Down as CEO

In June 2007, Rudy Giuliani stepped down as CEO and chairman of Giuliani Partners, but 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, Giuliani's campaign received an endorsement from evangelist Pat Robertson, signaling potential support from evangelicals and social conservatives despite Giuliani's stances on social issues.

December 4, 2007: Giuliani's Resignation as CEO 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, though he maintained his equity interest in the firm.

January 8, 2008: New Hampshire Primary Result

On January 8, 2008, Rudy Giuliani finished fourth in the New Hampshire primary, receiving only 9 percent of the vote.

January 29, 2008: Florida Primary Result

On January 29, 2008, Giuliani finished third in the Florida primary, receiving 15 percent of the vote, behind McCain and Romney.

June 2008: Sought to Retire Campaign Debt

In June 2008, Giuliani sought to retire his $3.6 million campaign debt by proposing to appear at Republican fundraisers during the 2008 general election, with a portion of the proceeds going towards his campaign.

November 2008: Siena College Poll

In November 2008, a Siena College poll indicated that Governor David Paterson had a slight lead over Giuliani in a hypothetical matchup for New York governor.

2008: Returns to Work at Giuliani Partners and Bracewell & Giuliani

In 2008, following the end of his presidential campaign, Giuliani returned to work at both Giuliani Partners and Bracewell & Giuliani.

2008: Giuliani announced exploratory committee for 2008 presidency

In November 2006, Giuliani announced the formation of an exploratory committee toward a run for the presidency in 2008.

January 2009: Giuliani Considers Gubernatorial Run

In January 2009, Giuliani stated that he would decide on a gubernatorial run in six to eight months, expressing concerns about campaigning early while the governor focused on his job.

February 2009: Siena College Poll Shows Giuliani Leading Paterson

In February 2009, a Siena College poll indicated that Governor Paterson was losing popularity and showed Giuliani with a fifteen-point lead in a hypothetical contest for New York governor.

August 2009: Conflicting Reports About Gubernatorial Run

By late August 2009, there were still conflicting reports regarding whether Giuliani was likely to run for governor of New York.

December 23, 2009: Announces He Will Not Seek Office in 2010

On December 23, 2009, Giuliani announced that he would not seek any office in 2010, citing his commitments to Bracewell & Giuliani and Giuliani Partners.

2009: Criticizes Obama Administration's Handling of Financial Crisis

In 2009, Giuliani criticized the Obama administration and U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner for lacking executive competence in handling the 2007-2008 financial crisis.

2009: Security Consulting Contract with Rio de Janeiro

In late 2009, Rudy Giuliani announced that Giuliani Partners had a security consulting contract with Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, regarding the 2016 Summer Olympics.

2010: Endorses and Campaigns for Republican Candidates

During the 2010 midterm elections, Giuliani endorsed and campaigned for Republican candidates Bob Ehrlich and Marco Rubio.

2010: Possible Gubernatorial Bid

Giuliani did not rule out a 2010 New York gubernatorial bid.

October 11, 2011: Announces He Will Not Run for President

On October 11, 2011, Giuliani announced that he would not run for president, citing the challenges faced by a moderate in GOP primaries.

2011: Advising Keiko Fujimori

In 2011, Giuliani advised Keiko Fujimori with her presidential campaign during the Peruvian general election.

January 2016: Leaves Bracewell & Giuliani

In January 2016, Rudy Giuliani left the law firm Bracewell & Giuliani by "amicable agreement", and the firm was rebranded as Bracewell LLP.

January 2016: 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: Removes Name from Consideration for Cabinet Post

On December 9, 2016, Trump announced that Giuliani had removed his name from consideration for any Cabinet post in the incoming administration.

2016: Supports Donald Trump in 2016 U.S. Presidential Election

In 2016, Giuliani supported Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election, giving a prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention and appearing in a Great America PAC ad.

2016: Rio Olympics Security Consulting

In 2016, the Summer Olympics were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Giuliani Partners had secured a security consulting contract with the city in late 2009.

January 12, 2017: Named Informal Cybersecurity Adviser

On January 12, 2017, President-elect Trump named Giuliani his informal cybersecurity adviser.

January 2017: Advises Trump on Executive Order 13769

In January 2017, Giuliani said he advised President Trump on matters relating to Executive Order 13769, which barred citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for 90 days and suspended refugee admissions.

2017: Urges Trump to Extradite Fethullah Gülen

In 2017, Giuliani privately urged President Trump to extradite Fethullah Gülen.

April 2018: Joins Trump's Legal Team

In April 2018, Giuliani joined President Trump's legal team to deal with the special counsel investigation by Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections.

April 2018: Takes Leave of Absence

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: Resigns from Greenberg Traurig

On May 9, 2018, Rudy Giuliani resigned from the law firm Greenberg Traurig.

June 2018: Giuliani on Trump's Testimony to Special Counsel

In June 2018, Giuliani advised that Trump should not testify to the special counsel investigation because "our recollection keeps changing".

August 2018: Retained by Freeh Group

In August 2018, Rudy Giuliani was retained by Freeh Group International Solutions, a consulting firm run by former FBI Director Louis Freeh, to lobby Romanian president Klaus Iohannis to change Romania's anti-corruption policy and reduce the role of the National Anticorruption Directorate.

November 2018: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Created

In November 2018, Trump created the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), potentially impacting Giuliani's role as informal cybersecurity advisor.

May 2019: Giuliani Urges Investigation of Burisma and Manafort

In May 2019, Rudy Giuliani began urging Ukraine's newly elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to investigate Burisma, an oil company with Hunter Biden (Joe Biden's son) on its board, and to look into irregularities in the Ukraine investigation of Paul Manafort. Giuliani claimed these investigations would benefit his client's defense and had Trump's full support.

July 2019: Buzzfeed News Reports on Giuliani's Ukrainian Liaisons

In July 2019, Buzzfeed News reported that Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, two Soviet-born American Republican donors, acted as liaisons between Giuliani and Ukrainian officials in his efforts to investigate Burisma and Paul Manafort. Giuliani dismissed the report, calling it a cover-up.

October 1, 2019: Giuliani Hires Jon Sale for Impeachment Inquiry

On October 1, 2019, Rudy Giuliani hired Jon Sale, a former Watergate prosecutor, to represent him in the House Intelligence Committee's impeachment investigation related to the Ukraine scandal.

October 11, 2019: Giuliani Under Investigation by Southern District of New York

On October 11, 2019, The New York Times reported that the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, an office Giuliani once led, was investigating him for potentially violating lobbying laws concerning his activities in Ukraine.

2019: Represents Alejandro Betancourt

In 2019, Giuliani represented Venezuelan businessman Alejandro Betancourt, meeting with the Justice Department to ask not to bring charges against him.

2019: Giuliani Pressures Ukraine to Investigate Biden

In 2019, Rudy Giuliani pressured the Ukrainian government to investigate baseless conspiracies about then-candidate Joe Biden, as revealed by audio uncovered by CNN on June 8, 2021.

January 2020: Launches Podcast

In January 2020, Rudy Giuliani launched a podcast, Rudy Giuliani's Common Sense.

October 31, 2020: Giuliani Casts Provisional Ballot

On October 31, 2020, Rudy Giuliani himself cast a provisional ballot in Manhattan, despite publicly denouncing the use of provisional ballots and arguing that the practice enables fraud.

November 2020: Giuliani Leads Trump's Lawsuits on Voter Irregularities

In November 2020, Donald Trump placed Rudy Giuliani in charge of lawsuits related to alleged voter irregularities in the 2020 United States presidential election. On November 7, Giuliani held a press conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping. Giuliani lead a legal team to challenge the election results, making false assertions at a November 19 press conference.

November 17, 2020: Giuliani Argues Pennsylvania Election Case

On November 17, 2020, Rudy Giuliani argued a case in Pennsylvania federal court, seeking to invalidate up to 6.8 million votes. He misrepresented his status with the District of Columbia Bar and struggled with legal processes, facing accusations of making "disgraceful" arguments. The judge questioned the justification for invalidating millions of votes.

November 21, 2020: Federal Lawsuit Against Pennsylvania Dismissed

On November 21, 2020, the federal lawsuit filed by Rudy Giuliani against Pennsylvania was dismissed with prejudice, with the judge citing "strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations" which were "unsupported by evidence".

December 2020: SDNY Investigates Giuliani's Emails

In December 2020, NBC News reported that SDNY investigators had discussed with Justice Department officials the possibility of acquiring Rudy Giuliani's emails, which might require headquarters approval due to attorney–client privilege.

2020: Investigation into Ukrainian Officials Meddling in 2020 Election

In 2020, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn investigated whether Ukrainian officials, including through Rudolph W. Giuliani, meddled in the 2020 presidential campaign to spread misleading claims about President Biden.

January 8, 2021: Trump and Team Lose 63 Lawsuits, Giuliani Seeks Payment and Pardon

By January 8, 2021, Donald Trump and his team had lost 63 lawsuits. Rudy Giuliani's associate Maria Ryan requested that Giuliani be paid $2.5 million and receive a "general pardon".

January 2021: Dominion Sues Giuliani and Fox News

In January 2021, Dominion Voting Systems filed a defamation lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani and separately sued Fox News for $1.6 billion.

February 4, 2021: Smartmatic Sues Giuliani, Fox News, and Powell

On February 4, 2021, Smartmatic sued Rudy Giuliani, Fox News and some of its hosts, and Sidney Powell, accusing them of engaging in a "disinformation campaign" against the company; the company sought $2.7 billion in damages.

February 2021: SDNY Scrutinizes Giuliani's Association with Firtash

In February 2021, The New York Times reported that the SDNY was scrutinizing Rudy Giuliani's association with Dmytro Firtash in efforts to discredit the Bidens.

February 16, 2021: Reportedly Not Involved in Trump's Legal Cases

As of February 16, 2021, Giuliani was reportedly not actively involved in any of Trump's pending legal cases.

April 2021: SDNY Investigation Expands to Include Derkach and Artemenko

In April 2021, Forensic News reported that the SDNY investigation into Rudy Giuliani had expanded to include a criminal probe of Andrii Derkach and Andrii Artemenko.

April 2021: Giuliani's iCloud Account Searched

In April 2021, it was revealed that investigators had searched Rudy Giuliani's iCloud account beginning in late 2019, leading to legal challenges over the legality of the search and subsequent raids on Giuliani's properties.

April 28, 2021: Federal Investigators Execute Search Warrants on Giuliani

On April 28, 2021, federal investigators executed search warrants at Rudy Giuliani's office and apartment in Manhattan, seizing electronic devices. The FBI also searched Victoria Toensing's home and confiscated her cellphone.

May 2021: Investigators Question Witnesses About Giuliani's Association with Firtash

In May 2021, Time reported that investigators questioned witnesses about Rudy Giuliani's association with Dmytro Firtash, focusing on efforts to lobby the Trump administration on behalf of Ukrainian officials.

May 2021: SDNY Confirms Investigation into Giuliani and Toensing

In May 2021, the SDNY confirmed in a court filing that in late 2019 it obtained search warrants for Rudy Giuliani's and Victoria Toensing's iCloud accounts as part of an ongoing grand jury investigation.

June 8, 2021: CNN Uncovers Audio of Giuliani Pressuring Ukraine

On June 8, 2021, CNN uncovered audio of a 2019 phone call from Rudy Giuliani to Ukraine, revealing that Giuliani relentlessly pressured and coaxed the Ukrainian government in 2019 to investigate baseless conspiracies about then-candidate Joe Biden.

June 2021: Giuliani's Law License Suspended

In June 2021, Rudy Giuliani's license to practice law was suspended in the state of New York, pending an investigation related to his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

July 2021: Trump Does Not Pay Giuliani for Election Legal Fights

As of the end of July 2021, Donald Trump had not given any of the money raised for election-related legal fights to Rudy Giuliani.

September 10, 2021: Fox News Bans Giuliani and His Son

On September 10, 2021, Fox News informed Rudy Giuliani that neither he nor his son Andrew would be allowed on their network for nearly three months.

October 2021: Trump Remarks on Paying Lawyers

In October 2021, Donald Trump remarked, "I do pay my lawyers when they do a good job."

December 2021: Georgia Election Workers Sue Giuliani for Defamation

In December 2021, Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea' ArShaye Moss sued Rudy Giuliani in DC for defamation, after Giuliani falsely accused them of manipulating vote tallies.

January 2022: Special Master Releases Giuliani's Communications to Prosecutors

In January 2022, the special master released over 3,000 of Rudy Giuliani's communications to prosecutors, withholding 40 messages and rejecting 37 claims of privilege.

March 2022: Smartmatic's Defamation Suit Against Fox News and Giuliani Proceeds

In March 2022, a New York State Supreme Court judge ruled that Smartmatic's defamation suit against Fox News and Rudy Giuliani could proceed, dismissing two of the sixteen counts against Giuliani.

May 20, 2022: Giuliani testifies to House Select Committee

In response to a January 2022 subpoena, Rudy Giuliani testified on May 20, 2022, before the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th attack.

August 2022: SDNY Unlikely to Indict Giuliani for Ukraine Activities

In August 2022, The New York Times reported that the SDNY was unlikely to indict Rudy Giuliani for his activities in Ukraine. Prosecutors confirmed this in a court filing three months later.

February 2023: Appellate Division Reinstates Two Counts in Smartmatic Suit

In February 2023, the Appellate Division reinstated the two counts that were dismissed in the Smartmatic defamation suit against Rudy Giuliani.

July 2023: Giuliani Ordered to Pay Attorneys' Fees

In July 2023, Rudy Giuliani was ordered to pay attorneys' fees to the election workers after being sanctioned for failing to turn over evidence in the case.

August 2023: Dominion Lawsuits Against Giuliani and Powell Still Active

As of August 2023, Dominion Voting Systems' lawsuits against Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell for their election-related lies are still active.

December 5, 2023: Giuliani Fails to Appear at Federal Court Pretrial Hearing

On December 5, 2023, Rudy Giuliani did not appear at a federal court pretrial hearing in the defamation case brought by Ruby Freeman and Wandrea' ArShaye Moss. His lawyer cited a misunderstanding, and the judge criticized Giuliani's absence.

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 and further disciplinary actions related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.