The New York State Bar Association was urged to investigate and disqualify President Donald Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, for an impassioned speech in which he called for a “trial by combat” before Wednesday’s deadly riot at US Capitol Hill. USA.
Democratic representatives Ted Lieu and Mondaire Jones wrote a letter to the association on Friday, urging them to “open an immediate investigation” about Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City.
“We request that his office open an immediate investigation into the president’s lawyer for his statements calling for a ‘trial by combat’ before a violent Capitol insurrection, in which five people died, including a US Capitol police officer, and members of Congress and the vice president were credibly threatened with violence, “said the letter.
“We believe that Mr. Giuliani’s actions disqualify him from being an up-to-date member of the New York State Bar.”
Speaking at the ‘Stop the Steal’ rally in Washington DC on Wednesday, Giuliani made baseless claims that the election had been stolen due to electoral fraud and urged Trump supporters to fight for the results.
“In the next 10 days, we will see machines that are crooked, banknotes that are fraudulent. If we are wrong, we will be made fools of, but if we are right, many of them will go to jail. We will do a combat test, “he said.
“I am willing to bet my reputation, the president is willing to bet his reputation on the fact that we will find crime there,” he added.
Shortly thereafter, a violent mob of supporters of the president stormed the United States Capitol building. The riot left five people dead, caused multiple injuries and postponed certification for the election of President-elect Joe Biden.
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Lieu and Jones argued that, through his language, Giuliani encouraged the “agitated and armed crowd” to become involved in the violence.
“Immediately after his speech, a crowd of thousands descended on the Capitol and attacked the US Capitol Police, forcibly entered the building and threatened to attack or kill elected officials,” the letter said.
“We cannot and should not support a member of our profession – no matter who we work for – engaged in such patterns of behavior that subvert the authority of the United States government, let alone a duty as serious and sacred as the certification election,” they added. .
On Thursday, Giuliani called the attack on the Capitol “shameful”.
“The violence on Capitol Hill was shameful. It was as criminal as the riots and looting this summer, which were not condemned hard enough by the left. This violence is condemned in the strongest terms. Our movement values respect for law and order and for Police, “he tweeted.
Several politicians blamed the attack on Giuliani, Trump and other allies who have propagated false conspiracies about electoral fraud in the past three months.
“Rudy Giuliani’s incitement to riot at the Capitol should end his destructive legal career. The legal profession cannot tolerate sedition in its ranks if it hopes to maintain the faith of the American people,” Jones said on Friday.
House Democrats and some Republicans in Congress have since called for Trump to be removed from office. On Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned the President that if he does not resign, Congress will present impeachment articles.
Newsweek contacted the New York State Bar and Giuliani for additional comments, but did not get a response in time for publication.