History of Rudy Giuliani in Timeline

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Rudy Giuliani

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.

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.

May 28, 1944: Rudy Giuliani Born

On May 28, 1944, Rudolph William Louis Giuliani was born.

1965: First Republican Mayor Since Lindsay

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

October 26, 1968: Marriage to Regina Peruggi

On October 26, 1968, Rudy Giuliani married Regina Peruggi, his second cousin, whom he had known since childhood.

1975: Trial Separation from Peruggi

By 1975, Rudy Giuliani's marriage to Regina Peruggi was in trouble and they agreed to a trial separation.

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.

April 1981: Father's Death

In April 1981, Rudy Giuliani's father died at age 73 of prostate cancer at Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center.

August 12, 1982: Files for Legal Separation

On August 12, 1982, Rudy Giuliani filed for legal separation from Regina Peruggi.

1983: Marriage Annulment

In 1983, Rudy Giuliani and Regina Peruggi received a Roman Catholic church annulment of their marriage, reportedly because Giuliani discovered that he and Peruggi were second cousins.

April 15, 1984: Marriage to Donna Hanover

On April 15, 1984, Rudy Giuliani married Donna Hanover at St. Monica's church in Manhattan. They had two children: Andrew and Caroline Rose.

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.

1988: Giuliani's Mother's Comments on his Political Affiliation

In 1988, Giuliani's mother commented that he only became a Republican after getting jobs from them and that he wasn't a conservative Republican.

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.

1989: Giuliani Sought Endorsement from Rabbi Schneerson

In 1989, during his mayoral campaign, Rudy Giuliani visited the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, seeking his blessing and endorsement.

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.

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.

1992: Attempted attack on Iranian mission to the United Nations

In 1992, the MEK attempted to attack the Iranian mission to the United Nations.

1993: Previous Terrorist Attack

Giuliani has been widely criticized for his decision to locate the Office of Emergency Management headquarters on the 23rd floor inside the 7 World Trade Center building, in light of the previous terrorist attack against the World Trade Center in 1993.

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.

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.

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.

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.

February 1996: Hauer recommended Brooklyn location

In February 1996, Jerome M. Hauer's memo read, "The [Brooklyn] building is secure and not as visible a target as buildings in Lower Manhattan."

1996: Hanover Stops Public Appearances

By 1996, Donna Hanover had reverted to her professional name and virtually stopped appearing in public with her husband Rudy Giuliani amid rumors of marital problems.

1996: Bratton Featured on Time Magazine Cover

In 1996, Bill Bratton was featured on the cover of Time magazine. Giuliani reportedly forced Bratton out after two years, due to Giuliani's intolerance of Bratton's celebrity.

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.

May 1997: Giuliani Put Responsibility

In May 1997, Rudy Giuliani placed responsibility for selecting the location of the Office of Emergency Management headquarters on Jerome M. Hauer.

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.

1997: People's Mujahedin of Iran listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organization

From 1997, the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) was placed on the United States State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

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.

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.

April 1999: Giuliani Formed Senate Run Committee

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

May 1999: Meets Judith Nathan

In May 1999, while still married to Donna Hanover, Rudy Giuliani met Judith Nathan, a sales manager for a pharmaceutical company, at Club Macanudo, an Upper East Side cigar bar.

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.

March 2000: Stops Wearing Wedding Ring

By March 2000, Rudy Giuliani had stopped wearing his wedding ring.

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.

April 2000: Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer

In April 2000, Rudy Giuliani, then aged 55, was diagnosed with prostate cancer following a prostate biopsy, after an elevated screening PSA. He later made a full recovery and became a spokesman for cancer survivors.

May 3, 2000: Publicly Acknowledges Nathan

On May 3, 2000, Rudy Giuliani publicly acknowledged Judith Nathan as his "very good friend".

May 10, 2000: Announces Separation from Hanover

On May 10, 2000, Rudy Giuliani held a press conference to announce his intention to separate from Donna Hanover without informing her beforehand, leading to widespread criticism. He praised Judith Nathan and stated he and Hanover had grown to live independent lives. Hanover stated it had been difficult to participate in Rudy's public life due to his relationship with a staff member.

May 2000: News of Relationship Breaks

In early May 2000, The Daily News and the New York Post both broke news of Rudy Giuliani's relationship with Judith Nathan.

October 2000: Considered Term Limits Removal

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.

October 2000: Files for Divorce from Hanover

In October 2000, Rudy Giuliani filed for divorce from Donna Hanover, leading to a public battle between their representatives.

2000: Hauer's time as New York City's first director of emergency management

From 1996 to 2000, Jerome M. Hauer served under Giuliani before being appointed by him as New York City's first director of emergency management.

2000: Interest in Senate

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

2000: Chauffeur Services for Nathan

In early 2000, the New York Police Department began providing Judith Nathan with city-provided chauffeur services.

2000: Crime Rate Decline

Sociologist Frank Zimring claimed in his 2006 book The Great American Crime Decline, that virtually 100 percent of New York's continuing crime decline since 2000, has resulted from policing.

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.

6 Pack of Motorola RMU2080D Two Way Radio Walkie Talkies
6 Pack of Motorola RMU2080D Two Way Radio Walkie Talkies

May 2001: Impotence Due to Cancer Treatment Revealed

In May 2001, Rudy Giuliani's attorney revealed that Giuliani was impotent due to prostate cancer treatments and had not had sex with Judith Nathan for the preceding year. Giuliani acknowledged Nathan's support during his cancer treatment.

August 2001: Moves Out of Gracie Mansion

By August 2001, Rudy Giuliani had moved out of Gracie Mansion and into an apartment with a couple he was friends with.

September 23, 2001: Oprah Winfrey calls Giuliani "America's Mayor"

On September 23, 2001, at a 9/11 memorial service held at Yankee Stadium, Oprah Winfrey called Giuliani "America's Mayor."

December 24, 2001: Time names Giuliani Person of the Year

On December 24, 2001, Time magazine named Giuliani its Person of the Year for 2001, noting a shift in his public image after 9/11 from a rigid politician to a leader who united the city.

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.

February 13, 2002: Giuliani receives honorary knighthood

On February 13, 2002, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed an honorary knighthood (KBE) upon Giuliani for his leadership on and after September 11.

July 2002: Divorce Settlement with Hanover

In July 2002, Rudy Giuliani and Donna Hanover settled their divorce case after his mayoralty had ended. Giuliani paid Hanover a $6.8 million settlement and granted her custody of their children.

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.

2002: 2002 Los Angeles International Airport shooting, 2002 D.C. sniper attacks

In 2002, the Los Angeles International Airport shooting and the D.C. sniper attacks were examples Politifact used to counter Giuliani's claim about terrorist attacks before Obama.

May 24, 2003: Marries Judith Nathan

On May 24, 2003, Rudy Giuliani married Judith Nathan. It was also Nathan's third marriage after two divorces.

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.

September 2006: Historian Vincent J. Cannato's Conclusion

In September 2006, historian Vincent J. Cannato concluded [the omitted information] about Giuliani.

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.

2006: 2006 Seattle Jewish Federation shooting and the 2006 UNC SUV attack

In 2006, the Seattle Jewish Federation shooting and the UNC SUV attack were examples Politifact used to counter Giuliani's claim about terrorist attacks before Obama.

2006: The Great American Crime Decline Published

In his 2006 book, The Great American Crime Decline, sociologist Frank Zimring claimed that up to half of New York's crime drop in the 1990s, and virtually 100 percent of its continuing crime decline since 2000, has resulted from policing.

The Great American Crime Decline (Studies in Crime and Public Policy)
The Great American Crime Decline (Studies in Crime and Public Policy)

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.

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.

March 2007: Estranged from Children

By March 2007, The New York Times and the Daily News reported that Rudy Giuliani had become estranged from both his son Andrew and his daughter Caroline.

May 13, 2007: Wallace Interviewed Giuliani

On May 13, 2007, television journalist Chris Wallace interviewed Rudy Giuliani about his 1997 decision to locate the command center at the World Trade Center, presenting a memo from Hauer recommending a location in Brooklyn.

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: 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.

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.

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.

April 2009: Opposes Same-Sex Marriage in New York

In April 2009, Giuliani strongly opposed Governor Paterson's push for same-sex marriage in New York, predicting it could lead to Republican gains in statewide office in 2010.

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.

September 2012: People's Mujahedin of Iran removed from the State Department list

The People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) was on the State Department list from 1997 until September 2012.

December 2012: Canada delisted the People's Mujahedin of Iran

Canada delisted the People's Mujahedin of Iran in December 2012.

2012: Criticism for Advising Allies of Milošević

In 2012, Rudy Giuliani faced criticism for advising people once allied with Slobodan Milošević who had lauded Serbian war criminals.

2014: Arrest of Firtash in Vienna

Since his 2014 arrest in Vienna, Austria, at the request of American authorities, Dmytry Firtash has been living there on $155 million bail while fighting extradition to the United States on bribery and racketeering charges.

February 2015: Controversial Remarks About President Obama

In February 2015, at a Republican fund-raising event, Giuliani stated he did not believe President Obama "loves America," sparking criticism and death threats.

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.

June 9, 2016: Trump Tower Meeting

In late August, Giuliani said the June 9, 2016, Trump Tower "meeting was originally for the purpose of getting information about Hillary Clinton".

August 2016: Controversial Claim About Terrorist Attacks Before Obama

In August 2016, while campaigning for Trump, Giuliani claimed that there were no successful radical Islamic terrorist attacks in the U.S. during the eight years before Obama's presidency, which was refuted due to events such as 9/11.

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: Giuliani Responds to Bossert's Debunking of Ukraine Interference Theory

Following the 2016 U.S. election, Tom Bossert, a former Homeland Security Advisor in the Trump administration, dismissed Giuliani's theory about Ukraine's involvement in election interference as "debunked," leading to Giuliani's rebuttal.

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.

2017: Justice Department Characterizes Firtash

In 2017, the Justice Department characterized Dmytry Firtash as being an "upper echelon (associate) of Russian organized crime".

April 4, 2018: Nathan Files for Divorce

On April 4, 2018, Judith Nathan filed for divorce from Rudy Giuliani after 15 years of marriage, stating that "he has become a different man".

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.

May 2018: Remarks on Spygate Conspiracy Theory

In May 2018, Giuliani discussed the Spygate conspiracy theory and its relation to discrediting the special counsel investigation.

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".

June 2018: Statement on Indicting a Sitting President

In June 2018, Giuliani stated that a sitting president cannot be indicted, even if President Trump were to shoot then-FBI director James Comey.

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.

October 2018: Payments to Giuliani from Fraud Guarantee

In October 2018, Long Island attorney Charles Gucciardo, a Republican donor and Trump supporter, made a $250,000 payment to Giuliani on behalf of Lev Parnas's company, "Fraud Guarantee".

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 Praises Yuriy Lutsenko

In May 2019, Giuliani described Ukraine's chief prosecutor Yuriy Lutsenko as a "much more honest guy" than his predecessor, Viktor Shokin.

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.

July 2019: DiGenova and Toensing Hired by Firtash

In July 2019, Dmytry Firtash hired Joseph diGenova and Victoria Toensing, who are Trump and Giuliani associates, on Parnas's recommendation. Giuliani reportedly directed Parnas to approach Firtash with the proposition that Firtash could help provide damaging information on Biden.

August 2019: Phone records show calls made by Giuliani

Phone records acquired via subpoenas showed that numerous phone calls made by Giuliani occurred in August 2019.

September 2019: No Clear Evidence of Wrongdoing by Bidens

By September 2019, despite Giuliani's efforts to instigate investigations in Ukraine, no clear evidence of wrongdoing by the Bidens had surfaced.

September 2019: Giuliani Promotes Shokin's Statement

In September 2019, Giuliani promoted a statement from Viktor Shokin, the former Ukrainian prosecutor general, alleging that Joe Biden had him fired for investigating Burisma. Giuliani presented this statement as evidence of wrongdoing by the Bidens.

September 2019: Lutsenko Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing

In September 2019, after being removed from office, Yuriy Lutsenko said he found no evidence of wrongdoing by the Bidens and had met Giuliani about ten times. Giuliani then reversed his stance, criticizing Lutsenko.

September 2019: Giuliani Confirms Request to Investigate Biden

In September 2019, amidst reports of a whistleblower alleging high-level misconduct related to Ukraine, Giuliani initially denied asking Ukrainian officials to investigate Biden on CNN, but then admitted he did. He also appeared to confirm that Trump withheld military assistance to Ukraine pending the investigation.

September 30, 2019: House Committee Subpoenas Giuliani

On September 30, 2019, the House Intelligence Committee issued a subpoena to Giuliani, requesting documents related to the Ukraine scandal to be submitted by October 15, 2019.

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 2, 2019: State Department Inspector General Delivers Disinformation Packet to Capitol Hill

On October 2, 2019, Steve Linick, the State Department's inspector general, delivered a packet of apparent disinformation concerning Joe Biden and Marie Yovanovitch to Capitol Hill. Giuliani later admitted to passing the packet to Pompeo.

October 9, 2019: Arrest of Parnas and Fruman

On October 9, 2019, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman were arrested for campaign finance violations while attempting to board a one-way flight to Frankfurt from Washington Dulles International Airport.

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.

November 2019: Giuliani Directed Parnas to Approach Firtash

In November 2019, The New York Times reported that Giuliani had directed Parnas to approach Firtash, suggesting Firtash could provide damaging information on Biden as part of a potential resolution to his extradition matter.

November 2019: Giuliani Admits He Wanted Yovanovitch Removed

In a November 2019 interview, Giuliani confirmed that he "needed Yovanovitch out of the way" because she was obstructing his investigations. He had previously persuaded Trump to remove her in spring 2019.

November 22, 2019: Giuliani Sends Letter to Senator Graham Regarding Ukrainian Witnesses

On November 22, 2019, Giuliani sent a letter to Senator Lindsey Graham, informing him of witnesses from Ukraine with evidence of Democratic conspiracy and Biden family involvement in alleged crimes. Giuliani requested Graham's help in obtaining U.S. visas for the witnesses to testify.

December 3, 2019: House Committee Report Includes Giuliani's Phone Records

On December 3, 2019, the House Intelligence Committee's report included phone records acquired via subpoenas, revealing numerous phone calls made by Giuliani between April and August 2019 with various individuals, including Kurt Volker, Devin Nunes, Lev Parnas, and numbers associated with the Office of Management and Budget and the White House.

December 10, 2019: Divorce Settled

On December 10, 2019, the divorce between Rudy Giuliani and Judith Nathan was settled.

December 2019: Giuliani Meets with Andrii Derkach

In December 2019, Rudy Giuliani met with Ukrainian politician Andrii Derkach, who was later identified as a proxy of Russian intelligence.

December 2019: Giuliani Returns to Ukraine for Documentary

In early December 2019, while the House Judiciary Committee held impeachment inquiry hearings, Giuliani returned to Ukraine to interview former officials for a documentary seeking to discredit the proceedings. U.S. officials suggested Giuliani was a target of Russian intelligence efforts.

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.

2019: Giuliani's Actions Central to Trump's Impeachment Inquiry

In 2019, the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump centered around Giuliani's actions concerning Ukraine. Giuliani's name was mentioned frequently in the testimony and reports of the House Intelligence Committee. Some experts suggested Giuliani may have violated the Logan Act.

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: Legal Fees Related to Overturning 2020 Election

By 2023, Giuliani had reportedly incurred seven-figure legal fees in cases related to Donald Trump and the attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

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.

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 6, 2021: Giuliani speaks at "Save America March" rally

On January 6, 2021, Rudy Giuliani spoke at the "Save America March" rally on the Ellipse, attended by Trump supporters protesting the election results. He repeated conspiracy theories about voting machines and called for "trial by combat", later claiming it was a reference to the TV show Game of Thrones. Following this, Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.

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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 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.

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.

January 29, 2021: Giuliani falsely accuses The Lincoln Project

On January 29, 2021, Rudy Giuliani falsely claimed that The Lincoln Project was involved in organizing the Capitol riot. Steve Schmidt responded by threatening to sue Giuliani for defamation.

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.

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.

March 2021: Intelligence Report on Russian Proxies Promoting Misleading Narratives About Biden

In March 2021, a United States intelligence community analysis found that Andrii Derkach, who met with Rudy Giuliani in December 2019, was among proxies of Russian intelligence who promoted misleading narratives about Biden.

April 2021: Investigation into Yovanovitch's Removal

By April 2021, the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan was investigating the role of Giuliani and his associates in Marie Yovanovitch's removal from her position.

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.

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.

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.

September 2021: Fruman Pleads Guilty

In September 2021, Igor Fruman eventually pled guilty to having solicited a contribution by a foreign national.

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.

June 27, 2022: Giuliani allegedly assaulted at ShopRite

On June 27, 2022, Rudy Giuliani, campaigning for his son Andrew at a ShopRite supermarket in Staten Island, was allegedly assaulted by an employee, Daniel Gill. Giuliani claimed the incident was severe, while Gill's representatives downplayed it.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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 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.

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.

July 12, 2024: Giuliani's Bankruptcy Case Dismissed

On July 12, 2024, Giuliani's bankruptcy case was dismissed, and he was barred from filing for bankruptcy again for one year.

September 2024: Caroline Endorses Kamala Harris

In September 2024, while endorsing Kamala Harris for the 2024 United States presidential election, Caroline Giuliani wrote that her relationship with her father was "cartoonishly complicated", and that "Despite his faults, I love him."

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.

January 3, 2025: Giuliani found in contempt of court

On January 3, 2025, Rudy Giuliani was ruled in contempt of court by Judge Liman at a hearing.