For months after former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden, he falsely insisted Democrats had "stolen" victory from him through widespread election fraud.
The Trump campaign unleashed a daily onslaught of bizarre hearings, frivolous lawsuits and incoherent tweets—all seeking to throw out the people's votes and secure a second term for its figurehead. Few were more visible at the forefront of this effort than Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.
The man formerly known as "America's Mayor" had the unenviable task of defending Trump's election lies to state lawmakers, media outlets, and the general public. This frequently resulted in Giuliani beclowning himself on Trump's behalf, whether through venue mixups or runny hair dye.
Giuliani is now under federal investigation, reportedly for his pressure on Ukrainian officials to provide damaging information on the Bidens. That investigation escalated late last month when Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials raided Giuliani's apartment and seized a number of his electronics.
The former Mayor insists he's done nothing wrong and that the raid on his apartment was corrupt. That aside, it looks like Giuliani will face some steep legal fees in the effort to defend himself amid the investigation and two defamation lawsuits from election software companies he smeared. That's where Trump comes in.
Maggie Haberman and Ben Protess of the New York Times reported this week that Giuliani's advisors have been pressuring Trump aides to pay Giuliani for his 2020 election efforts. Even after that election, the Trump campaign raised hundreds of millions of dollars based on the lie that the election was stolen.
Because the $250 million raised from GOP donors was purportedly for legal fees associated with fighting the 2020 election results, Giuliani's aides believe Trump should pay the lawyer's legal fees, citing his prominent role in perpetuating the fantasy that Trump was the rightful winner against now-President Joe Biden.
According to the Times, Giuliani aides don't feel Trump is to blame for the holdup in Giuliani's payment, but rather Trump's advisors. Meanwhile, Trump's advisors insist that Trump is refusing to pay. These aides are also reportedly disappointed that Giuliani wasn't granted a pre-emptive pardon from Trump when he was still in the White House.
People aren't all that sympathetic toward Giuliani.
Trump has long had a reputation for refusing to pay his bills, and many don't think Giuliani is going to see his payment any time soon.
Questions still remain as to where the hundreds of millions of dollars raised from Republican donors to upend the election have gone.
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