Rudy was joking (says his lawyer) when he said he had insurance, since his call to Trump was perfect
The joke is in your hands.
The attorney, Robert Costello, said Giuliani “at my insistence” had called Trump “within the last day” to emphasize that he had not been serious when he said he had an “insurance policy, if thrown under the bus.”
“He shouldn’t joke, he is not a funny guy. I told him, ‘Ten thousand comedians are out of work, and you make a joke. It doesn’t work that way,’” Costello told Reuters.Giuliani has already said that he was being sarcastic when he made the comments. Trump, too, has brushed them off, telling reporters in the Oval Office this week that “Rudy is a great guy.” The White House declined to comment on Costello’s remarks.
Subpoenas issued by federal prosecutors in recent weeks suggest a sweeping investigation is being conducted into Rudy Giuliani and his associates, with potential charges including obstruction of justice, fraud and money laundering, the Wall Street Journal first reported and the Washington Post confirmed.
What we know: Prosecutors have issued subpoenas seeking records and information related to Giuliani and two associates, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, who have already been indicted on campaign finance violations. The investigation is being led by the FBI and the Southern District of New York, the U.S. attorney’s office that Giuliani once ran.
- Giuliani has denied any wrongdoing. Parnas and Fruman have pleaded not guilty.
- Prosecutors are also seeking information about the pro-Trump groups America First Action and America First Policies.
The subpoenas suggest that the following charges are being considered, according to the Journal.
- Obstruction of justice
- Money laundering
- Conspiracy to defraud the United States
- Making false statements to the federal government
- Serving as an unregistered foreign agent
- Donating funds from foreign nationals
- Making contributions in a false name
- Mail fraud
- Wire fraud