Reports are rolling in that Federal agents in Manhattan conducted a raid on the Upper East Side apartment of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The raid is part of an ongoing investigation into his dealings in Ukraine while serving as the personal lawyer of former President Donald Trump.
Forbes revealed in early March that the investigation had resumed after President Biden came into office after stalling toward the end of Trump’s term.
Their report at the time indicated the probe was seeking to determine if “Giuliani’s work in Ukraine violated U.S. lobbying laws.”
They went on to suggest prosecutors were “also looking into such other potential crimes as money laundering, obstruction of justice and campaign finance violations.”
Federal investigators in Manhattan searched Rudy Giuliani’s apartment and office and seized his electronic devices. Executing a search warrant is an extraordinary move for prosecutors to take against a lawyer, let alone a lawyer for a former president. https://t.co/aiDt112Zln
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 28, 2021
The New York Times is reporting that multiple sources have indicated both the apartment as well as Giuliani’s office on Park Avenue were searched in the early morning hours.
They note that authorities “seized Mr. Giuliani’s electronic devices” at the two locations.
“The federal authorities have been largely focused on whether Mr. Giuliani illegally lobbied the Trump administration in 2019 on behalf of Ukrainian officials and oligarchs, who at the same time were helping Mr. Giuliani search for dirt on Mr. Trump’s political rivals, including President Biden,” the Times stated.
These are scary times for Trump supporters, Rudy Giuliani is an American patriot! https://t.co/DwKBNBbVhA
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) April 28, 2021
CNN is reporting that it is “unusual for prosecutors to execute a search warrant on a lawyer” though this marks the second time Manhattan federal prosecutors have done so, including a warrant for Michael Cohen, another former Trump attorney.
Eric Swalwell slept with a Chinese spy and Nancy Pelosi gave him a promotion.
Rudy Giuliani investigated Hunter Biden's corrupt Ukraine deals and the feds raided his office and home.
But how dare we claim the DOJ could be weaponized!
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) April 28, 2021
Rudy Giuliani’s own lawyer, Robert Costello, blasted federal agents over the raid calling it “totally unnecessary” and alleging it was solely executed as a means to “make him look like he’s some sort of criminal.”
“What they did today was legal thuggery,” Costello said. “Why would you do this to anyone, let alone someone who was the associate attorney general, United States attorney, the mayor of New York City and the personal lawyer to the 45th president of the United States.”
I’m not gonna wax poetic about the greatness of Rudy Giuliani, but if Trump’s former lawyer getting raided by Biden’s FBI doesn’t make the hairs on your neck stand up a little, I don’t know what to tell you.
— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) April 28, 2021
Several social media posts from right-leaning pundits implied that the raid was evidence of a weaponized justice system for political opponents of the President.
“Eric Swalwell slept with a Chinese spy and Nancy Pelosi gave him a promotion,” author Brigitte Gabriel scoffed. “Rudy Giuliani investigated Hunter Biden’s corrupt Ukraine deals and the feds raided his office and home.”
Conservative writer Drew Holden indicated news of the raid was chilling.
“If Trump’s former lawyer getting raided by Biden’s FBI doesn’t make the hairs on your neck stand up a little, I don’t know what to tell you,” he said.
Conservative Rudy Giuliani‘s home was raided over Ukraine investigation by feds.
Liberal Eric Swalwell slept with a Chinese spy and still on intelligence committee. No repercussions, no FBI investigation and no Federal raid.
Get it.
— Kambree (@KamVTV) April 28, 2021
“While the warrants are not an explicit accusation of wrongdoing against Mr. Giuliani, it shows that the investigation has entered an aggressive new phase,” the New York Times writes.