Donald Trump’s personal lawyer and friend, Rudy Giuliani, says he will not represent Trump during his impeachment trial, ABC News reports.
On Sunday, Giuliani told ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl that he will not be able to be Trump’s lawyer because of his role in the Jan. 6 Washington, D.C. raid and attack on the U.S. Capitol. Giuliani has been spreading false claims and lies alongside his Republican companion for years now. Most recently, he worked with Trump to try to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
“Because I gave an earlier speech [at the rally], I am a witness and therefore unable to participate in court or in the Senate chamber,” Giuliani said.
Before his speech, Giuliani told ABC News on Saturday that he was already preparing to defend Trump, saying Trump’s voter fraud rhetoric doesn’t constitute incitement of violence because they believe their claims that the election was rigged.
Just before Trump supporters marched to terrorize the U.S. Capitol, Giuliani told the mob to participate in “trial by combat.” Rioters made their way to the U.S. Capitol, and while there, busted windows stole furniture and damaged law officials’ offices. The raid was put together as an attempt to stop legislators from confirming President-elect Joe Biden as president.
For now, there are no details on who will be a part of Trump’s legal team. “President Trump has not yet made a determination as to which lawyer or law firm will represent him for the disgraceful attack on our Constitution and democracy, known as the ‘impeachment hoax,'” Hogan Gidley tweeted early Sunday.
