Rudy Giuliani said he and Trump were selling pardons for $2m apiece, ex-aide claims
A former aide to former Trump attorney Rudolph Giuliani says he told her the ex-New York City mayor and then-president Donald Trump were offering to sell presidential pardons for $2 million apiece, according to court documents. The bombshell allegation was levied in a complaint filed against Mr Giuliani by Noelle Dunphy, a New York-based public relations professional who is suing him for “unlawful abuses of power, wide-ranging sexual assault and harassment, wage theft, and other misconduct” committed while she worked for him in 2019 and 2020. The lawsuit also claims that she was subjected to sexual assault, harassment, wage theft and other misconduct by Mr Giuliani, and alleges that she was forced to perform sex acts on him and work in the nude. Ms Duphy’s lawsuit details an interaction she allegedly had with Mr Giuliani on or about 16 February 2019, when he was serving as Mr Trump’s personal attorney and attempting to dig up overseas dirt on then-former vice president Joe Biden, who at the time was two months away from entering the 2020 presidential race against Mr Trump. She writes that as they reviewed emails between him and Ukrainian government officials, she asked if he had to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and offered to do the required paperwork for him. The former mayor replied that he was allowed to violate Fara and other US laws because “[he had] immunity”. She then states that Mr Giuliani asked her “if she knew anyone in need of a pardon” because he was “selling pardons for $2 million, which he and President Trump would split”. “He told Ms Dunphy that she could refer individuals seeking pardons to him, so long as they did not go through “the normal channels” of the Office of the Pardon Attorney, because correspondence going to that office would be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act,” she added. During Mr Trump’s presidency, he frequently granted pardons to wealthy or well-connected individuals without the involvement of the Pardon Attorney, the Department of Justice official who is charged with reviewing petitions for executive clemency and making recommendations as to whether a given petition should be granted. No evidence has ever emerged that Mr Trump or Mr Giuliani were ever compensated for any presidential pardon granted during Mr Trump’s time in office, but Ms Dunphy’s allegation matches that made by another person who once sought a pardon from the then-president. In August, The New York Times reported that former CIA officer John Kiriakou broached the topic with Mr Giuliani during a meeting at the Washington, DC hotel Mr Trump’s company ran between 2016 and 2022. Mr Kiriakou, who in 2012 was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for disclosing classified information, told the Times that one of Mr Giuliani’s associates at the meeting said the ex-New York City mayor could assist him — for a price. “It’s going to cost $2 million — he’s going to want two million bucks,” he recalled the Giuliani associate as saying. He also told the Times that he did not pursue a pardon through Mr Giuliani because he could not afford to pay him $2 million. “I laughed. Two million bucks — are you out of your mind?” Kiriakou told the outlet. “Even if I had two million bucks, I wouldn’t spend it to recover a $700,000 pension,” he said. Ted Goodman, a spokesperson for and adviser to Mr Giuliani, told The Independent in an email that the former New York mayor “unequivocally denies the allegations raised by Ms Dunphy”. “Mayor Giuliani’s lifetime of public service speaks for itself and he will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims,” he added. The Independent has reached out to Mr Trump’s team for comment. Read More Trump news – live: Aides showed Trump tweets by AOC and Andrew Yang to psyche him up during break in town hall Rudy Giuliani sued for $10m for alleged sexual assault by former employee Trump claimed the Durham probe would uncover the 'crime of the century.' Here's what it really found Trump tells former adviser Michael Flynn: 'We’re going to bring you back' Trump says AOC ‘went crazy’ over CNN town hall as he slams Democrat’s relationship Ivanka and Jared split over attending Trump 2024 launch – follow live Why was Donald Trump impeached twice during his first term? Four big lies Trump told during his 2024 presidential announcement
1970-01-01 08:00
Tenor Stephen Gould dies at age 61 after being diagnosed with bile duct cancer
Tenor Stephen Gould, who announced earlier this month that he had been diagnosed with incurable bile duct cancer, has died
2023-09-21 04:18
Cole Palmer explains decision to leave Man City for Chelsea
Cole Palmer has admitted he left Manchester to join Chelsea in search of more guaranteed first-team football.
2023-09-12 21:20
Embiid pours in 32 points, grabs 12 rebounds to lead 76ers to 121-99 win over Nets
NEW YORK (AP) — Joel Embiid had 32 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Brooklyn Nets 121-99 on Sunday.
2023-11-20 10:31
Confusion over launch date for African Football League
CAF confirmed at a meeting of their top officials in Abidjan on Thursday that the African Football League would kick off in October, but there is...
2023-07-14 04:58
Analysis-Evergrande will struggle to revive its debt restructuring plan
By Clare Jim, Xie Yu and Scott Murdoch HONG KONG China Evergrande is trying to stave off liquidation
2023-10-31 18:26
A Jan. 6 rioter was convicted and sentenced in secret. No one will say why
A felony case stemming from the U.S. Capitol riot appears to have been resolved in secret, with the man released from federal custody this week despite no public record of a conviction or sentencing
2023-09-16 03:44
Paris tourist shows off arm covered in bedbug bites from staying in Airbnb
A tourist has shown off bedbug bites all over his arm after renting an Airbnb in Paris. The capital of France has been engulfed by an infestation of bedbugs in recent weeks, with authorities warning “no-one is safe”. Footage of the insects has horrified social media users, with some seen standing on the Parisian metro instead of sitting on the fabric seats, or posting warnings about the critters swarming all over their Airbnb rentals. TikToker Jimmy Song shared his experience from last month, saying the room he was hoping to rent for a month was infested. He also showed his arm covered in bites. Read More ‘I save £1,800 a year as a student with these money-saving hacks’ Jessie J cries as she prepares to leave baby for first time: ‘I need support’ Taylor Swift ‘apparently’ dating football player, says John Kirby
2023-10-04 19:22
Black Men’s Historic Labor Gains Unravel as Fed Fights Inflation
The recent softening in the US labor market is hurting Black men the most, threatening to unravel record
2023-11-01 16:00
Australia offers climate refuge to Tuvalu citizens
Tuvalu - a series of low-lying atolls - is one of the countries most at risk from climate change.
2023-11-10 12:41
Sunak is under pressure to act as the UK's net migration figures for 2022 hit a record high
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing heavy pressure from his own Conservatives to take swift action to bring down migration as new data showed net migration numbers were higher than previously thought
2023-11-23 23:07
Chelsea sign France forward Nkunku from RB Leipzig
Chelsea sealed their swoop for France forward Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig in a deal worth a reported £63 million...
2023-06-20 18:25
You Might Like...
The global nuclear arsenal grew last year, SIPRI says
Shark Beauty™ Expands Hair Care Portfolio with New Innovations and Partners with Celebrity Hairstylist Chris Appleton as its Newest Global Ambassador
'The Fall of the House of Usher': The most WTF moments we can't get out of our heads
UK Can Build New Power Lines in Half the Time, Top Adviser Says
Bitcoin saved from torrid August by landmark Grayscale ruling
Ex-US Vice President Mike Pence to launch 2024 election bid, challenging Trump
Anthony Davis and the Lakers Could Only Laugh After Nikola Jokic's Buzzer-Beater
Gloria Estefan, Jeff Lynne, Teddy Riley, Glen Ballard, Liz Rose heading to Songwriters Hall of Fame
