Rudy Giuliani’s daily radio show on WABC was canceled on Friday and he was suspended from the station due to his repeated violation of a ban on discussing discredited claims about the 2020 election. Giuliani argued that the ban was a violation of free speech, while station owner John Catsimatidis said that Giuliani had been warned twice not to discuss these topics but continued to do so. Giuliani, as Trump’s personal attorney, played a key role in trying to overturn the 2020 election results and keep Trump in office, despite the lack of evidence to support these claims.
Giuliani disputed Catsimatidis’ claim that he had been informed ahead of time of the ban on discussing the 2020 election. He argued that he had been talking about these claims for years on his show and would not continue to do so if there was a policy against it. A letter from Catsimatidis to Giuliani outlined the specific topics he was prohibited from discussing, including the legitimacy of the election results and allegations of fraud by election workers. Giuliani’s spokesperson, Ted Goodman, said that Giuliani was not aware of the directive before Thursday.
Giuliani’s suspension from WABC comes at a time when he is facing legal challenges related to his role in spreading false claims about the 2020 election. He was recently indicted by an Arizona grand jury for his involvement in attempting to overturn Trump’s loss in the 2020 election. Additionally, Giuliani filed for bankruptcy following a ruling that he must pay $148 million to two former Georgia election workers for spreading lies about their involvement in the election. Despite these legal challenges, Giuliani has continued to insist that the election was stolen and that he did nothing wrong.
In early April, a New York bankruptcy judge allowed Giuliani to remain in his Florida condo but hinted at more severe measures if he did not comply with requests for information about his spending habits. Giuliani’s bankruptcy prompted a diverse group of creditors to come forward, including a woman who accused him of coercing her into sex, two election technology companies that he spread conspiracies about, and Hunter Biden, who alleged that Giuliani illegally shared his personal data. Despite these legal troubles, Giuliani has maintained his stance on the 2020 election and has vowed to continue pressing his claims, even at the risk of losing all his money or facing jail time.
Giuliani’s suspension from WABC and his legal challenges related to the 2020 election illustrate the division and controversy surrounding the aftermath of the election. While many have accepted the results and moved on, Giuliani and others continue to espouse baseless claims of fraud and misconduct. The ongoing legal battles and financial troubles facing Giuliani serve as a reminder of the consequences that can result from spreading misinformation and false claims.
