Challenges in the Life of Rudy Giuliani in a Detailed Timeline

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Rudy Giuliani's life and career.

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

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.

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.

1991: Crime Rates Began to Drop

Crime rates in New York City started to drop in 1991 under Mayor David Dinkins, three years before Giuliani took office.

1993: Ineffective radios after the World Trade Center bombing

In 1993, the radios used by the fire department were criticized for their ineffectiveness following the World Trade Center bombings.

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: Mayoral office study indicates faulty radios

In 1994, a mayoral office study of the radios used by the fire department indicated that they were faulty.

1998: NYPD opposition to Trade Center site

In 1998, the New York City Police Department opposed locating the city's emergency command center at the World Trade Center site; however, the Giuliani administration overrode these concerns.

March 2000: Dorismond Shooting

In March 2000, the New York Police Department's fatal shooting of Patrick Dorismond strained Rudy Giuliani's relations with minority communities and became a major campaign issue for Hillary Clinton.

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.

March 2001: Recall of replacement Motorola radios

In March 2001, replacement radios purchased in a $33 million no-bid contract with Motorola were recalled after a probationary firefighter's calls for help could not be picked up, resulting in firemen reverting to old analog radios from 1993.

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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.

February 2007: Fire Fighters accuse Giuliani of rushing recovery effort

In February 2007, the International Association of Fire Fighters alleged that Giuliani rushed the World Trade Center recovery effort to recover gold and silver, potentially preventing the recovery of victim remains.

June 2007: Christie Todd Whitman accuses Giuliani of blocking respirator use

In June 2007, Christie Todd Whitman, former director of the EPA, stated that Giuliani blocked the EPA's efforts to ensure WTC workers wore respirators, potentially leading to lung diseases and deaths among responders.

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.

March 2009: Presidential Campaign Debt

By the end of March 2009, Giuliani's presidential campaign debt was still $2.4 million in arrears, the largest remaining amount for any of the 2008 contenders.

2020: Efforts to Overturn the 2020 Presidential Election

In 2020, Rudy Giuliani was involved in efforts to overturn the results of the presidential election, which later led to the suspension of his law license in June 2021 and disbarment.

January 11, 2021: Giuliani may face charges for inciting Capitol attack

On January 11, 2021, District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine announced he was considering charging Rudy Giuliani, along with Donald Trump Jr. and Representative Mo Brooks, with inciting the January 6th Capitol attack.

March 5, 2021: Eric Swalwell files civil lawsuit against Giuliani

On March 5, 2021, Representative Eric Swalwell filed a civil lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Representative Mo Brooks, seeking damages for their alleged role in inciting the Capitol riot.

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.

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, citing "uncontroverted" evidence of false and misleading statements made to courts, lawmakers, and the public regarding the 2020 election.

April 2023: Seeks Financial Assistance from Trump

In April 2023, Giuliani and his lawyer Robert Costello met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago to ask for money, leading to a Trump PAC paying $340,000 toward Giuliani's data storage bill.

August 1, 2023: Giuliani identified as "Co-Conspirator 1" in Trump indictment

On August 1, 2023, Rudy Giuliani was widely identified in news reports as "Co-Conspirator 1" in the Justice Department's special counsel's indictment of Donald Trump, related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Giuliani's lawyer acknowledged the allegation.

August 14, 2023: Giuliani indicted in Georgia election case

On August 14, 2023, Rudy Giuliani, along with Donald Trump and 17 others, was indicted by an Atlanta, Georgia, grand jury for conspiring to alter the outcome of the 2020 election. The indictment cites Giuliani's false testimony to Georgia lawmakers.

August 23, 2023: Giuliani turns himself in to Fulton County Sheriff's Office

On August 23, 2023, Rudy Giuliani turned himself in at the Fulton County Sheriff's Office regarding the Georgia indictment.

September 2023: Hunter Biden Files Lawsuit

In September 2023, Hunter Biden filed a civil lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani, his companies, and attorney Robert Costello, alleging they spent years hacking, tampering with, manipulating, copying, and disseminating data stolen from his personal devices, causing "total annihilation" of his digital privacy.

September 2023: Lawsuit for Unpaid Legal Fees

In September 2023, the law firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron sued Rudy Giuliani for over $1.3 million in unpaid legal fees, alleging he only paid $214,000 of his legal bill between November 2019 and July 2023. Giuliani disputed the amount as excessive.

October 2023: Giuliani Files Defamation Lawsuit

In October 2023, Rudy Giuliani filed a defamation lawsuit in New Hampshire against President Joe Biden for referring to him as a "Russian pawn" during a 2020 presidential debate, claiming Biden's comments were false and personally harmful.

December 15, 2023: Giuliani ordered to pay $148 million in damages

On December 15, 2023, a federal jury ordered Rudy Giuliani to pay $148 million to Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, including $75 million in punitive damages. Following the verdict, Giuliani stated he had no regrets and would appeal, while one of his lawyers suggested a bankruptcy filing.

February 7, 2024: Giuliani Claims Trump Campaign Owes Him $2 Million

On February 7, 2024, Giuliani stated in court that the Trump campaign and the RNC owed him about $2 million, mainly for legal fees.

March 2024: Giuliani Fails to Respond to Motion to Dismiss

In March 2024, Rudy Giuliani did not respond to a motion to dismiss the defamation lawsuit he filed against President Joe Biden.

April 2024: Giuliani Indicted in Arizona

In April 2024, Giuliani was indicted on charges related to the 2020 election in Arizona.

May 21, 2024: Giuliani pleads not guilty in Arizona election case and ordered to post bond

On May 21, 2024, Rudy Giuliani and ten other co-defendants pled not guilty after being arraigned in Maricopa County Superior Court. Giuliani appeared virtually and was ordered to post a $10,000 bond and book himself into custody within 30 days.

May 31, 2024: DC Bar agrees Giuliani should be disbarred

On May 31, 2024, the DC Board on Professional Responsibility agreed that Rudy Giuliani should be disbarred.

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.