WASHINGTON -- Rudy Giuliani was charged Friday by the District of Columbia's office that investigates ethical misconduct against attorneys. He made baseless claims in federal court alleging that the 2020 presidential election had been stolen.
According to the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Giuliani is a member of D.C.'s bar and made unfounded claims in federal court filings regarding the 2020 Presidential Election in Pennsylvania.
Giuliani's lawyer did not respond immediately.
These charges are coming a day after the U.S. House Select Committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol held its first prime-time hearing. It presented evidence that Trump and his aides sought to reverse the 2020 election and incite throngs to stop Congress from certifying the victory of President Joe Biden.
Giuliani is a former U.S. attorney in Manhattan and New York City mayor. He has repeatedly claimed that Trump had stolen the election without any evidence.
New ethics charges are based on a number of legal challenges Giuliani raised in Pennsylvania federal court in 2020. The District of Columbia Court of Appeals Board of Professional Responsibility filed the charges.
According to the complaint, Giuliani requested an emergency order to prevent the certification of the presidential elections, to invalidate certain ballots cast in seven counties and to issue other orders that would have allowed the state's assembly the right to elect its electors, declaring Trump the winner in Pennsylvania.
Two Pennsylvania professional conduct rules prohibit attorneys from bringing frivolous cases without a basis of law or fact. They also prohibit conduct that could prejudice the administration and justice.
A license to practice law can be suspended or disbarred if you are charged.
This is the second time that Giuliani has been charged by a bar.
In June 2021, his New York law license was suspended after an appeals court found that the defendant made "demonstrably falsified and misleading" statements about widespread voter fraud that undermined the election.
After the New York decision, Giuliani's DC license was temporarily suspended.
Giuliani has had two of his law licences suspended. His reputation is also being damaged by his dealings in Ukraine. Manhattan federal prosecutors are investigating Giuliani for those business ties.
In April 2018, he began representing Trump as a New Yorker and fellow Republican in connection to Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections.
