Former President Donald Trump’s attorney, Rudy Giuliani, pleaded not guilty to 13 felony counts in the Georgia election interference case, joining Trump and 10 others charged in the indictment.
Giuliani, 79, chose to submit a written not guilty plea to the Fulton County Superior Court, waiving the right to a formal in-person arraignment scheduled for Sept. 6.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis charged Giuliani on Aug. 14 with violating Georgia’s anti-racketeering law, conspiracy to commit false statements and writings, and soliciting a public officer to violate their oath. These 13 counts are more than those brought against Trump or any of the other co-defendants in the case.
BREAKING: Rudy Giuliani's mugshot released.
WE STAND WITH YOU, AMERICA'S MAYOR! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/WfzPe0UssK
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) August 23, 2023
The charges against Giuliani include violation of the Georgia RICO Act, solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer, false statements and writing, conspiracy to commit false statements and writings, conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, and conspiracy to commit filing false documents.
JUST IN: A defiant Rudy Giuliani turns himself in to the Fulton County jail, says he feels good because he is defending the rights of Americans.
“I'm the same Rudy Giuliani that took down the mafia that made New York City the the safest city in America.”
“Enemies of our… pic.twitter.com/BKfiqlOi8n
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 23, 2023
Giuliani, who has criticized the indictment as an “affront to American Democracy,” was released on a $150,000 bond after surrendering at the Fulton County jail on Aug. 23. Other defendants, including former Trump campaign lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, former campaign aide Mike Roman, and Georgia lawyer Robert Cheeley, also submitted written not guilty pleas.
The trial is tentatively set to begin on Oct. 23, and Willis seeks to try all 19 defendants together.
