Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York and attorney to Donald Trump, is facing millions of dollars in legal fees, according to a source familiar with the matter. Giuliani has organized a fundraiser at Trump’s Bedminster golf club in an effort to raise funds for his legal defense. The event is expected to bring in over $1 million for Giuliani’s defense fund, with tickets priced at $100,000 each. However, Giuliani’s son, Andrew Giuliani, admitted that the fundraiser will not cover all of his father’s legal fees. Despite the mounting debt, Giuliani has been spending time with Trump, including dining together and greeting supporters at Trump’s resort in Bedminster.
Giuliani is currently facing a number of lawsuits and criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. He has been sued for defamation over his false claims of election fraud and has been sanctioned nearly $90,000 in attorneys’ fees. Last week, a judge ruled against him in a defamation lawsuit brought by two Georgia election workers. Giuliani is also facing criminal charges in Fulton County, Georgia, for his role in an alleged conspiracy to subvert the will of voters.
Giuliani’s legal bills are estimated to be as high as $5 million. He has struggled to pay these bills while defending against the multiple lawsuits and criminal charges. It is unclear if Giuliani will be able to afford his defense team for the Georgia case, which is expected to last approximately four months and involve more than 150 witnesses.
There is a divide among Trump advisors about whether the former president should help Giuliani with his legal bills. Some advisors believe that Trump should support his longtime ally, while others argue that he should cut ties with Giuliani. Despite not personally paying Giuliani’s bills, Trump has sponsored fundraisers and made a payment from his political action committee to cover Giuliani’s debt to a data-hosting company.
Giuliani’s longtime friend and former New York police commissioner, Bernie Kerik, is advising him on finding lawyers and raising money. Kerik estimates that Giuliani has lost between $10-$20 million in business due to his work for Trump. Giuliani currently owes more than $1 million to his former attorney Robert Costello, but has been unwilling to ask Trump directly for help.
As Giuliani’s legal battles continue, the question remains as to whether he will be able to gather the resources necessary to mount a successful defense against the charges he is facing.