Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, along with 17 other allies of former President Donald Trump, was indicted by an Arizona grand jury in late April for their involvement in the state’s fake elector case. The 58-page indictment accuses them of acting as fake electors and attempting to overturn the results of the state’s 2020 presidential election, where President Joe Biden won by 10,457 votes. The individuals face charges of conspiracy, fraud, and forgery. Giuliani, who was the final individual to be served with the indictment, was handed the papers at his 80th birthday party in Palm Beach, Florida.
Following the service of the indictment, Giuliani posted a selfie photo with friends at his party on X, taunting Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. However, Mayes responded by reposting Giuliani’s post and emphasizing that “nobody is above the law.” The hand-delivered papers served to Giuliani provide him with the notice of his indictment, despite previous reports that he was the only defendant prosecutors had trouble serving with a summons. Giuliani’s head of security, Michael Ragusa, defended the former mayor, stating that he would never run from anything or anybody and that he was not hiding from the authorities.
Giuliani’s spokesperson, Ted Goodman, criticized the way in which the Arizona attorney general’s office delivered the papers to Giuliani, calling it disrespectful to barge into the birthday party of a man who has served the nation following catastrophic events like September 11. Giuliani had also faced repercussions earlier in the month when he was suspended from a New York radio station for promoting false information about the 2020 election. Despite this, Giuliani remains defiant, claiming that he was fired for refusing to stop discussing the election.
Social media users took to X to share their reactions to Giuliani being served with the indictment at his birthday party. Many commentators made jokes at Giuliani’s expense, referencing his ties to other controversial figures like Roger Stone and Steve Bannon. Some users highlighted the irony of Giuliani being served at his birthday party shortly after taunting Arizona officials on social media. Meanwhile, former Trump lawyer John Eastman has already appeared in court in the Arizona case, pleading not guilty, with arraignments for other defendants set to take place on May 21.
Overall, the incident involving Giuliani’s service with the indictment at his 80th birthday party has sparked a mix of reactions from the public, ranging from jokes and criticism to support for the former mayor. The legal proceedings in the Arizona fake elector case continue to unfold, with Giuliani and other defendants expected to appear in court in the coming weeks. Despite facing multiple challenges and controversies, Giuliani remains defiant and maintains his innocence in the face of the charges brought against him.
