Rudy Giuliani
Rudy GiulianiTrump lawyers offer defense of Giuliani on the Senate floor Giuliani: Bolton sacrificing his integrity 'to make a few bucks on a book' The Hill's Morning Report - Report of Bolton tell-all manuscript roils Trump defense MORE, President Trump
Donald John TrumpWarren: Dershowitz presentation 'nonsensical,' 'could not follow it' Bolton told Barr he was concerned Trump did favors for autocrats: report Dershowitz: Bolton allegations would not constitute impeachable offense MORE’s personal lawyer, appeared to back out of a conference in Armenia sponsored by the Kremlin that will include appearances by Russian President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinSchiff shows clip of McCain in Trump impeachment trial The need for clear thinking about Russia German president expresses 'sorrow' for Holocaust, warns 'spirits of evil' are rising MORE and other Russian officials.
Giuliani told reporters at The New York Times and CNN that he will not participate in the event after a story from The Washington Post reported his involvement.
GIULIANI texts me, "Not going," when asked about the Washington Post report about his planned appearance at a reportedly Kremlin-linked event for a speech.
— Maggie HabermanMaggie Lindsy HabermanThe Hill's 12:30 Report: Bolton shakes up debate over impeachment trial witnesses The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump beefs up impeachment defense with Dershowitz, Starr NY Times's Haberman: Trump 'surprised' Iranian strike wasn't 'more of a unifying event' MORE (@maggieNYT) September 27, 2019
New: @RudyGiuliani just told me he is no longer going to the conference in Armenia - one which Putin may attend, per Washington Post
— Dana BashDana BashYang on his wife's disclosure of sexual abuse: 'I felt like I'd failed her' Evelyn Yang shares that she was sexually assaulted by doctor Hill.TV's Saagar Enjeti on impeachment: 'CNN can see through this nonsense' MORE (@DanaBashCNN) September 27, 2019
According to a schedule for the event, Giuliani was slated to participate in a panel led by Sergey Glazyev, a Putin associate who is under U.S. sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The agenda shows that Giuliani would have been the only American scheduled to speak at the conference.
Giuliani’s appearance at the conference would have come days after the release of a whistleblower complaint saying Giuliani helped Trump pressure Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden
Joe BidenWarren: Dershowitz presentation 'nonsensical,' 'could not follow it' Bolton told Barr he was concerned Trump did favors for autocrats: report Dershowitz: Bolton allegations would not constitute impeachable offense MORE, one of the president’s chief political rivals.
Giuliani, who participated in the event last year, confirmed to the Post earlier Friday that he planned on participating in the panel at the conference organized by Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union, a trade alliance Putin launched in 2014 to counterbalance the European Union.
The former New York City mayor angrily dismissed questions from the Post about whether it was appropriate for him to participate in the event.
“I will try to not knowingly talk to a Russian until it is all over,” he said.
Giuliani would be paid for his appearance but noted that any payment “goes to my company.”
Current and former White House aides expressed frustration to the Post over Giuliani’s behavior and that he does not clear his media appearances or paid speeches with the administration. National security experts also expressed concern that Giuliani’s appearance at next week’s conference could provide a boost to a top EU rival.
“It’s terrible judgement for the president’s lawyer to attend this meeting,” David Kramer, a former State Department official under President George W. Bush who oversaw Russia and Ukraine policy, told the Post. “He is lending credibility to an organization Putin set up as an alternative to the European Union. … This will further confuse people on top of the havoc he has already created for Ukraine.”
“I can’t remember anything like this,” added Michael McFaul, who served as U.S. ambassador to Russia in the Obama administration.
