Did Rudy Strike Out With Georgia Grand Jury?

By Jeralyn, Section Trump Administration
Posted on Mon Aug 15, 2022 at 04:44:33 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

The New York Times reports that Robert Costello, one of Rudy Giuliani's attorneys, has told the media that he has been informed that Giuliani is a target (not a witness or a subject) of the grand jury investigation into Trump and his advisors and lawyers attempts to overturn the Georgia election results in 2016.

One of Mr. Giuliani’s lawyers, Robert Costello, said in an interview that he was notified on Monday that his client was a target. Being so identified does not guarantee that a person will be indicted; rather, it usually means that prosecutors believe an indictment is possible, based on evidence they have seen up to that point.

How does Rudy get out of an indictment? He can testify (and risk a perjuryor obstruction of justice charge if they have evidence he lied to the grand jury). It worked for Karl Rove (who had a great lawyer in Robert Luskin). Rove testified four times before the grand jury investigating the leak of the identity of CIA Agent Valerie Plame. [More...]

Is it too late for Rudy to sing for his supper?
Who will he pin the dirty work on?

It's too late for a pardon -- even there is a signed and dated one buried in the box with Roger Stone clemency documents in that storage closet at Mar-a-Lago, if it wasn't publicly filed while Trump still had a desk in the Oval Office, I doubt it would be valid. He no longer has authority to file anything as (Un)-President.

Rudy should have known the gig was up when he ended up at a gardening store named the Four Seasons in Philadelphia (rather than the hotel with the same name) and had to give his last (or one of his last) pressers from Trump from the parking lot.

< Garland Presser on Trump and Mar-a-Lago Search | Tuesday Open Thread: Coastal Grandmothers >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Did Rudy Strike Out With Georgia Grand Jury? | 37 comments (37 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

Great image in you post (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 15, 2022 at 05:03:12 PM EST

I have always thought Rudy would toss anyone including Donald under the bus to stay out of jail.
If it ever came to that.
It might be to late for that. The think the DOJ pretty much has Donald under the bus already.

Maybe gonna get crowded under there.

: His former aide (none / 0) (#16)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 16, 2022 at 04:20:57 PM EST

says Rudy's goal is "to die a free man". So yeah, I think your instincts are correct on this.

Also, aren't these state charges? (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Yman on Mon Aug 15, 2022 at 07:29:44 PM EST

So sorry, Rudy and pals. No presidential pardons for you!

The subpoena to Sen. Lindsey Graham (5.00 / 1) (#32)
by Peter G on Sun Aug 21, 2022 at 06:47:41 PM EST

is on temporary hold by order of the 11th Circuit (federal court of appeals). I don't get how the Georgia state grand jury subpoena can be invalid in its entirety under the Speech & Debate Clause (under Article I of the U.S. Const.). Particular questions the prosecutor might ask could be barred, and Graham can then assert his constitutional privilege as a member of Congress not to be questioned "in any other place" about his legislative actions and activities, in response to any such question. But how he thinks he has a right not to be subpoenaed at all, or how he can say that any question the Georgia prosecutor might possibly ask would surely concern his proper congressional activities, I cannot fathom.

: The (none / 0) (#34)
by FlJoe on Mon Aug 22, 2022 at 06:33:31 AM EST

Republican arguments always come down to they are above the law because of some misapplied or imagined technicality.
Unfortunately our justice system seems to deal with powerful people who say screw your subpoena so they are getting away with it.

The (none / 0) (#2)
by FlJoe on Mon Aug 15, 2022 at 05:50:28 PM EST

first one to sing gets the ring, anybody heard from Mark Meadows lately?

How much would it even help any (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 15, 2022 at 06:15:15 PM EST

prosecution to have Rudy as a witness? Unless he actually has some kind of hard evidence, which I guess is possible, who would believe a word he says.


: probably would not be helpful (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by Jeralyn on Tue Aug 16, 2022 at 12:27:17 AM EST

if as some believe, he tried to use the defense of he doesn't remember because he's a little wacko. The government could hardly put on a witness who told them he's a little wacko and ask a jury to find the person credible.
But who knows if that's really what Rudy tried to sell them. He also could have tried to sell them the Brooklyn Bridge. (/snark)

: Rudy (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 16, 2022 at 04:22:12 PM EST

said a long time ago that he had the "receipts" Maybe that was a lie and maybe he does have some but he's gonna have to show them.

Remember this (2019) (none / 0) (#4)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 15, 2022 at 06:21:45 PM EST

Rudy Giuliani says he has 'insurance' if Trump tries to throw him under the bus in the impeachment process

Will his insurance turn out to be BlueCross or Humana?

I think his insurance policy has expired (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by MO Blue on Mon Aug 15, 2022 at 06:42:39 PM EST

now that Trump does not hold the pardon pen.

Also, I think if Rudy has insurance, Trump would have given him a get out of jail free card before he left office.


: Trump (none / 0) (#18)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 16, 2022 at 04:23:46 PM EST

could have done nothing about the state charges and it seems Rudy's crimes are almost all state related.

Hope (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by FlJoe on Mon Aug 15, 2022 at 07:44:58 PM EST

he uses a radiation dector before he chugs his morning Bloody Mary.


Good idea (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 15, 2022 at 08:11:31 PM EST

I was thinking that it's Trump who should have a really good food taster.

The republicans who think are beginning to see the bottom of the barrel I bet.

I just read the republican Senate financers are taking big bucks away from a bunch of Trump Senate candidates. Basically cutting them loose.

If we keep the Senate they will hate it and blame Trump. If we keep the house they will hate that much more. And if he really tries to run for the nomination while under indictment, he would probably win the nomination more easily under indictment, they are going to start thinking about 2nd amendment solutions.

And try to blame us.


This (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Aug 15, 2022 at 08:14:39 PM EST

GOP Campaign Arm Slashes TV Ad Buys in 3 States
August 15, 2022 at 3:55 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 226 Comments
"The Republicans' Senate campaign committee has slashed its television ad reservations in three critical battleground states for the fall, a likely sign of financial troubles headed into the peak of the 2022 midterm election season," the New York Times reports.
"The National Republican Senatorial Committee has cut more than $5 million in Pennsylvania, including its reservations in the Philadelphia media market."
"Reservations in Wisconsin, in the Madison and Green Bay markets, have also been curtailed, by more than $2 million. And in Arizona, all reservations after Sept. 30 have been cut in Phoenix and Tucson, the state's only two major media markets, amounting to roughly $2 million more."

Well, GOP ads in Madison (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by Towanda on Mon Aug 15, 2022 at 10:50:17 PM EST

were a ridiculous waste of funds.

But giving up in Green Bay is interesting. It is very purple -- as is Wisconsin, of course, unlike the other states abandoned. I hope this means that GOP internals see something not yet noted elsewhere.


Same is true in PA (5.00 / 2) (#12)
by jmacWA on Tue Aug 16, 2022 at 04:33:14 AM EST

With Oz ads. I see the Philly local channels and his ads were a joke.

Fetterman on the other hand has great ads.


I'm enjoying Fetterman (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by Towanda on Tue Aug 16, 2022 at 10:57:35 AM EST

on Twitter, so I see the anti-Oz ads and more.

Love yesterday's laff about Oz's ad about the cost of "crudites." Pennsylvanians assure us that's called a veggie tray.


Oz is clueless (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by MO Blue on Tue Aug 16, 2022 at 12:48:32 PM EST

He is helping Fetterman win a much needed Senate seat. "Crudités" is not exactly a word used by the average person. I can just see someone watching Oz's ad going "What the h£ll, is crudités?"

Getting the name of the market wrong is just plain stupid.

BTW, Fetterman's campaign style is the main reason I was so bullish about him as a candidate.


Crudites (none / 0) (#15)
by jmacWA on Tue Aug 16, 2022 at 03:29:40 PM EST

For those not familiar with Eastern PA supermarkets we have Wegmans and Redners

NOT

WEGNERS... which is where OZ said he was going to buy his crudites.


: The whole (none / 0) (#20)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 16, 2022 at 04:27:30 PM EST

commercial was stupid but I think the grocery store name was deliberate for legal reasons.

"I don't look like a typical politician" (none / 0) (#21)
by Chuck0 on Tue Aug 16, 2022 at 04:36:53 PM EST

"Heck, I don't look like a typical person."

Gold.


Pennsylvania is also "purple," (none / 0) (#23)
by Peter G on Tue Aug 16, 2022 at 09:31:48 PM EST

I would say: About 46-39 Dem over Rep by registration, state-wide (the remaining 15% being registered Independent or 3d party), but the Ds are very concentrated in 4 or 5 areas, so with districting being what it is, there is a solid R majority in both houses of the state legislature. And of course, you never know who is going to turn out to vote, nor do people always vote as they are registered.


Honestly (none / 0) (#19)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 16, 2022 at 04:25:38 PM EST

I think this has more to do with the GOP not having money and the fact that those candidates are terrible. They aren't slashing here in GA with Herschel.


Herschel is horrifying (none / 0) (#26)
by Towanda on Sat Aug 20, 2022 at 09:14:32 AM EST

as a candidate. We are besieged by Ron Johnson ads, but even his stupidity cannot match Herschel Walker's statements, and hs ads must be so dismaying for you to see.


I honestly (none / 0) (#27)
by Ga6thDem on Sat Aug 20, 2022 at 01:42:22 PM EST

haven't seen any Herschel ads. I have seen anti-Warnock ads by PACs. Most of the ads featuring Walker are the ones from Warnock basically exposing Hershel as a crazy person. The latest making the rounds is Herschel telling people he trained at Quantico for the FBI but he's not supposed to tell anybody.


What is really crazy (none / 0) (#28)
by MO Blue on Sat Aug 20, 2022 at 04:36:34 PM EST

is that over 40% of voters in Georgia still support Walker who definitely has serious mental problems.


Whatt else do you expect? (5.00 / 1) (#31)
by Chuck0 on Sun Aug 21, 2022 at 10:05:42 AM EST

These are the same people who elected Marjorie Taylor Greene. And will probably re-elect her.

MGT is pure evil. I don't know that I've said that about anyone before in my life. I'm certainly not religious. But looking back at her past actions and statements tell me that she is a demon. Pure unadulterated evil incarnate.


I'm willing to give (none / 0) (#35)
by Zorba on Tue Aug 23, 2022 at 08:06:28 AM EST

Herschel somewhat of a pass because I suspect he may have Chronic traumatic encephalopathy or other brain injury from his years playing football, which causes him difficulties with verbal expression.

I don't, however, give any kind of pass to MTG. She knows exactly what she's doing, even if she labels some things incorrectly (Gazpacho instead of Gestapo, for example.)

And I don't give any kind of pass to their voters.

PS I keep wondering what's wrong with University of Georgia- both Walker and Taylor Greene went there.


: We all (none / 0) (#36)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 23, 2022 at 11:26:39 AM EST

are wondering about UGA these days. Brian Kemp graduated from there albeit with a degree in agriculture. I will say it was much easier to get into back in those days compared to now where it is the hardest school in the state.

Probably almost as many (none / 0) (#29)
by CaptHowdy on Sat Aug 20, 2022 at 05:05:27 PM EST

support Trump. At least Hershel has not tried to overthrow the GA state government. Yet.


I can't (none / 0) (#30)
by Ga6thDem on Sat Aug 20, 2022 at 06:27:13 PM EST

explain that. I have a few guesses:
Don't pay attention to politics.
Vote for any Republican.
He's a football hero from the past.


Funny video on Twitter. Oz's voice and (none / 0) (#22)
by oculus on Tue Aug 16, 2022 at 04:40:03 PM EST

Imaginary checkout clerk.

Does anyone know (GA6?) what Georgia crime (none / 0) (#24)
by Peter G on Tue Aug 16, 2022 at 09:34:37 PM EST

Rudy is under investigation for potentially having committed? I know a good bit about federal crimes, but each state can be really different.

: the grand jury is investigating (none / 0) (#25)
by Jeralyn on Wed Aug 17, 2022 at 12:06:38 AM EST

From CNN today: "solicitation of election fraud, conspiracy and making false statements to state and local government bodies."
Former Trump counsel Jenna Ellis lost a hearing in Colorado state court today to avoid appearing on her related subpoena in the case. According to CNN, a Georgia DA appeared by video and testified as to Ellis:

Wooten said the investigation had five areas of interest in seeking her testimony: investigators' belief that she was involved in planning hearings before Georgia lawmakers where Trump allies pushed claims of mass election fraud; legal memos Ellis authored advising that then-Vice President Mike Pence could disrupt the certification of President Joe Biden's win; her social media posts promoting election fraud claims; her participation in media interviews where she made those allegations; and any "unique knowledge" she would have about how Trump's associates were coordinating.
[DA]Wooten said that the grand jury was interested in her testimony as it related to the hearings that were held before a George Senate subcommittee on December 3 and December 30, 2020, as well as a virtual proceeding on December 10 before a Georgia House committee.
Rudy testified at some of those hearings:

In seeking Giuliani's testimony,[elected DA Fanni] Willis noted that he was both a personal attorney for Trump and a lead attorney for his 2020 campaign.
She recalled in a petition how Giuliani and others appeared at a state Senate committee meeting in late 2020 and presented a video that Giuliani said showed election workers producing "suitcases" of unlawful ballots from unknown sources, outside the view of election poll watchers. The claims of fraud were debunked by Georgia election officials within 24 hours. Yet Giuliani continued to make statements to the public and in subsequent legislative hearings claiming widespread election fraud using the debunked video, Willis noted in her filing.
Rudy testified again a week later:

At another hearing a week later, Giuliani said the footage showed the women "surreptitiously passing around USB ports as if they are vials of heroin or cocaine." They actually were passing a piece of candy.
Willis wrote in the court filing that Giuliani's hearing appearance and testimony were "part of a multi-state, coordinated plan by the Trump Campaign to influence the results of the November 2020 election in Georgia and elsewhere."
Rudy was also allegedly involved in the fake elector scheme, working with an attorney:

.... to coordinate and carry out a plan to have Georgia Republicans serve as fake electors. Those 16 people signed a certificate declaring falsely that Trump had won the 2020 presidential election and declaring themselves the state's "duly elected and qualified" electors even though Biden had won the state and a slate of Democratic electors was certified.

Great image (none / 0) (#33)
by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Sun Aug 21, 2022 at 09:47:17 PM EST

Too bad it's Photoshop.

Fani Willis (none / 0) (#37)
by Ga6thDem on Wed Aug 24, 2022 at 07:35:48 PM EST

is running a tight ship. Nothing has leaked out about Rudy's testimony that I have seen here in GA.

Just recently we found out that Brian Kemp is attempting to avoid testifying. This is freaking ridiculous unless he committed a crime I don't know about.