Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a staunch ally and former lawyer to ex-President Donald Trump, has initiated legal action against President Joe Biden.
Giuliani filed a defamation lawsuit in New Hampshire on October 4, alleging two instances of defamation during a 2020 presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee.
The first statement Giuliani takes exception to is when Biden raised Giuliani’s trip to Ukraine to gather information on Democrats, accusing Trump of knowingly exploiting false information.
Biden further asserted that Giuliani was being “used as a Russian pawn,” as per his national security advisor’s remarks.
“They’re interfering with American sovereignty. That’s what’s going on right now. They’re interfering with American sovereignty. To the best of my knowledge, I don’t think the president’s said anything to [Russian President Vladimir Putin] about it,” Biden said at the time.
“His own national security adviser told him that what is happening with his buddy – well I shouldn’t, well, I will – his buddy Rudy Giuliani,” Biden added.
“He’s being used as a Russian pawn. He’s being fed information that is Russian, that is not true. And then what happens? Nothing happens. And then you find out that everything is going on here about Russia is wanting to make sure that I do not get elected the next president of the United States because they know I know them, and they know me.” Biden continued.
The second statement that Giuliani is suing over is linked to Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. During the debate, Biden responded to allegations surrounding his son, which arose after Giuliani reportedly obtained and shared Hunter’s computer hard drive with the media.
Biden cited “50 former national intelligence folks” who claimed the laptop was Russian disinformation and asserted that only the 45th POTUS and Giuliani believed it.
Giuliani contends that Biden was aware his comments would discredit and marginalize him, portraying him as a liar in front of the American public.
To prove defamation, Giuliani will need to demonstrate that Biden made these statements with “actual malice.”
He must show that the current president knew the statements were false and that he intended to harm Giuliani.
The lawsuit was filed in New Hampshire because the state has a three-year window for defamation suits and allows cases from elsewhere. Giuliani hasn’t specified the damages sought but suggests they could reach “millions and billions of dollars.”
