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Trump’s Lawyer, Rudy Giuliani suspended in New York

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4 years ago

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Trump's Lawyer, Rudy Giuliani suspended in New York

Houston TX-THE former personal lawyer to immediate past United States President Donald Trump who once held one of the legal profession’s most prestigious jobs, was suspended Thursday from practicing law in New York state by an appellate court that found he made “demonstrably false and misleading statements” about the 2020 election.

In a ruling released following disciplinary proceedings the court concluded that “there is uncontroverted evidence” that Giuliani, the former Manhattan US attorney, “communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump campaign in connection with Trump’s failed effort at reelection in 2020.”

READ: New York court's ruling stripping Rudy Giuliani's law license
Giuliani’s “conduct immediately threatens the public interest and warrants interim suspension from the practice of law,” the court wrote.
The suspension of his law license marks a precipitous fall for the former New York City mayor, once considered an accomplished and formidable force in legal circles. In recent years, however, Giuliani’s reputation has suffered as he has come under criminal investigation by the office he used to lead, the Manhattan US attorney’s office, for possible illegal lobbying. He has denied wrongdoing.
Giuliani said later Thursday that he was “not very happy” with the court’s decision and argued that his comments were not a threat to the public.
“I made all those statements — not a single one of them led to a protest, a riot, an incident, an anything,” he said in an interview with Newsmax. “Obviously, those statements do not have the impact of creating danger.”
Giuliani’s lawyers, John Leventhal and Barry Kamins, said in a statement earlier Thursday that they’re “disappointed with the Appellate Division, First Department’s decision suspending Mayor Giuliani prior to being afforded a hearing on the issues that are alleged. This is unprecedented as we believe that our client does not pose a present danger to the public interest. We believe that once the issues are fully explored at a hearing Mr. Giuliani will be reinstated as a valued member of the legal profession that he has served so well in his many capacities for so many years.”
CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig said suspensions such as these are unusual.
“You’re a lawyer, your job is to zealously represent your client. A lot of times your client maybe has done wrong, but what you cannot do as a lawyer is just lie,” Honig said on CNN’s “At This Hour.” “This does not happen every day by any stretch. This is a very rare thing and a very extreme thing for the court to do.”

New emails show how Trump and his allies pressured Justice Department to try to challenge 2020 election results

Giuliani had been set to appear in court in DC on Thursday afternoon for proceedings in a defamation lawsuit from the vote management company Dominion Voting Systems, which is suing him and others for statements they made alleging election fraud. He didn’t attend the hearing.
In its ruling, the New York appellate court wrote of Giuliani that his “false statements were made to improperly bolster respondent’s narrative that due to widespread voter fraud, victory in the 2020 United States presidential election was stolen from his client.”
The court said it relied on Giuliani’s statements at press conferences, state legislative hearings and on TV appearances, radio broadcasts and podcasts, as well as in one court appearance.
In certain cases, according to the court’s ruling, Giuliani acknowledged that the statements he made were untrue, but claimed he didn’t knowingly make a false statement. Regarding absentee ballots in Pennsylvania, for example, Giuliani “claims that he relied on some unidentified member of his ‘team’ who ‘inadvertently’ took the information from the Pennsylvania website, which had the information mistakenly listed,” the court wrote, citing Giuliani’s affidavit.
The court concluded, however: “There is simply no proof to support this explanation.”
In other cases, the court said Giuliani failed to provide any source at all for statements he made, such as assertions concerning the number of dead people he alleged voted in Georgia in the 2020 election, which he said at various times ranged from 800 to 6,000.
The court said it found an interim suspension to be necessary because Giuliani’s behavior demonstrated an “immediate threat to the public.”
Judge rebukes GOP for downplaying US Capitol riot as he hands out first sentence in insurrection
“We find that there is evidence of continuing misconduct, the underlying offense is incredibly serious, and the uncontroverted misconduct in itself will likely result in substantial permanent sanctions at the conclusion of these disciplinary proceedings,” the court wrote.
Ronald Minkoff, an attorney who frequently defends lawyers with cases before the Attorney Grievance Committee, which petitioned for Giuliani’s suspension, said the decision to give Giuliani an interim suspension so quickly is atypical.
“In a case this difficult, this is pretty quick turnaround, especially considering the amount of complaints they had to evaluate,” Minkoff said. “He still has the right to a hearing. But that will take some time before that happens. He’s got a long process ahead before he’ll be able to practice again.”
Minkoff represents attorneys who filed a complaint against Giuliani in January, two weeks after the insurrection.
“This is about the integrity of the bar, and that’s really the issue here. It’s really unfortunate that somebody of Rudy Giuliani’s stature should have this happen to them. But his actions and the evidence shows that his actions warranted this.”
Though Giuliani told the court that he would “exercise personal discipline” and refrain from making further statements about the election in his capacity as a lawyer, according to the ruling, the court found that he had continued to make false statements since the submission of the application for suspension of his license.
“The seriousness of respondent’s uncontroverted misconduct cannot be overstated,” the court concluded. “This country is being torn apart by continued attacks on the legitimacy of the 2020 election and of our current president, Joseph R. Biden. The hallmark of our democracy is predicated on free and fair elections. False statements intended to foment a loss of confidence in our elections and resulting loss of confidence in government generally damage the proper functioning of a free society.”
-CNN
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‘I Dress To Inspire Young People’ – Pastor Adegboyega Defends Lavish Lifestyle

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3 weeks ago

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December 7, 2024

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Embattled Nigerian pastor and founder of SPAC Nation, Tobi Adegboyega, has defended his opulent lifestyle, claiming it serves to inspire young people rather than flaunt wealth.

This statement comes amid a UK Immigration Upper Tribunal ruling ordering his deportation over visa violations.

Adegboyega, 44, faced accusations of overstaying his visitor visa, which expired after he arrived in the UK in 2005.

Related News: Nigerian Pastor, Adegboyega Faces Deportation From UK Over £1.87m Fraud Allegations

He had applied to remain in the country on human rights grounds. The tribunal, however, ruled against him, citing his failure to regularize his status.

The pastor’s luxurious lifestyle, including designer clothing and expensive cars, was a focal point of the case.

Addressing the tribunal, Adegboyega stated that his lifestyle is fully funded by his wife, Mary Olubukola Alade, who earns £100,000 annually at AON.

He said, “I live with my partner, Mary Olubukola Alade, who earns £100,000 per year working for AON. I spend my time working for the church, for which I am unpaid. I am entirely supported by Mary. I have a first-class law degree from Nigeria, but I have ‘sacrificed’ my legal career to help those who cannot help themselves.”

Defending his appearance, Adegboyega emphasized the importance of projecting success to his young congregation.

The court noted, “For instance, people have pointed to the fact that he wears designer clothing and drives expensive cars. He was adamant that all of his personal possessions had been paid for by Mary.

“He believes it is important for him to dress the way that he does because he needs to inspire these young people – they need to understand that there are legitimate ways of making money, for instance through entrepreneurship.”

Despite the ruling, Adegboyega dismissed the deportation concerns as insignificant.

“I’m right here at home, no cause for alarm. Naturally, I will dismiss things that have to do with retrogression; every Nigerian should be proud of me. Living in the UK, a city that is well known for pulling people down, I have survived all sorts, so the matter that they are propagating is the smallest matter,” he said.

He further expressed confidence in his resilience. “No panic, I love London city, it is my city, and nobody can do anything. Of all the people of colour you know here – pastors and leaders – I have survived everything. I’m here, I am at home, nobody should panic for me.

“I succeeded well in this country despite all challenges, and I’m in the league of people you look up to. I have survived that well; nothing has changed, nothing will change,” he added.

 

 

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Afe Babalola Breaks Silence On Farotimi’s Arrest

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3 weeks ago

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December 5, 2024

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Amid the growing controversy surrounding the detention of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi, renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Aare Afe Babalola has publicly addressed the defamation allegations leveled against Farotimi.

The legal action stems from claims made in Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, which Babalola asserts contains false and defamatory statements about him and his law firm, Afe Babalola & Co.

READ MORE: FCT Workers Reject January 2025 Minimum Wage Implementation Proposal

In a petition dated November 19 and submitted to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, Babalola accused Farotimi of making “criminally defamatory” statements about him, his law firm, and two senior lawyers at his firm, Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro.

The defamatory remarks are tied to the Supreme Court case Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors v. H.R.H. Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors.

Babalola revealed that the allegations came to light when one of his lawyers purchased Farotimi’s book while traveling through Murtala Muhammed Airport.

After reading the book, the lawyer immediately brought its contents to Babalola’s attention.

Other members of his firm reportedly did the same, prompting the senior lawyer to take legal action.

In his petition, Babalola pointed to specific passages in Farotimi’s book that accused him of corruption and unethical conduct. The petition reads:

“I write to report the criminal defamation of myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co., and my lawyers, Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro, by one Dele Farotimi in his book titled ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’, published by Dele Farotimi Publishers, in respect of Suit No. SC/146/2005: Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors v. H.R.H. Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors.

“Sometime on 2/11/2024, one of our lawyers, while traveling through Murtala Muhammed Airport, bought a book by Dele Farotimi titled ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’. He read the book and immediately brought it to my attention. Many of my lawyers also bought the book and read it.”

“The defamatory statements are as follows:

  • That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment in the service of his client.
  • That Aare Afe Babalola, Olu Daramola, Olu Faro, and the law offices of Afe Babalola & Co. (Emmanuel Chambers) compromised the Supreme Court and the remaining semblance of integrity it might have had, when they went back to the Supreme Court and got the Court to swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self-abnegation.”

Babalola strongly denies the allegations, claiming that they are false and damaging to both his personal reputation and the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary.

 

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Dele Farotimi’s Book Becomes Amazon Bestseller Amid Defamation Saga

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3 weeks ago

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December 5, 2024

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Nigerian author and activist Dele Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, has surged to bestseller status on Amazon amid a legal battle with prominent lawyer and businessman, Afe Babalola.

The controversy surrounding the book has captivated public attention, driving both online and offline demand.

The book, which critiques systemic corruption in Nigeria’s judiciary and highlights alleged misconduct by key legal figures, saw modest sales following its release in July 2024.

Related News: NBA Demands Release Of Dele Farotimi, Condemns Police Actions

However, Farotimi’s arrest on Tuesday, following a petition filed by the 93-year-old Babalola, triggered a wave of public curiosity.

By Thursday evening, it had climbed to the top of Amazon’s bestseller rankings, according to checks by Vanguard. Bookstores across Nigeria also reported a significant uptick in demand.

Biztellers reports that Farotimi was detained in Lagos by armed police officers and transported to Ado Ekiti, about 300 kilometers northeast of the city, where Babalola is based.

The senior lawyer alleged that the book accused him of compromising Nigeria’s judiciary—a claim that has sparked heated debates about freedom of speech and accountability in the legal profession.

On Wednesday, Farotimi was arraigned in an Ekiti court, where the judge ordered his remand pending a bail hearing scheduled for December 10.

Farotimi’s legal team has vowed to contest the charges, framing the case as an attack on intellectual freedom.

 

 

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