WASHINGTON — Rudy Giuliani, former attorney to Donald Trump and one-time mayor of New York City, has been formally disbarred in Washington, D.C., signaling a growing legal scrutiny faced by lawyers who represented the former president. This decision comes shortly after Giuliani faced similar consequences in New York due to his involvement in attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals issued the disbarment on Thursday, basing their judgment on actions that had already led to Giuliani’s disbarment in New York in July. Alongside these penalizations, Giuliani has encountered criminal charges in multiple states including Arizona and Georgia, found himself embroiled in defamation lawsuits, and declared bankruptcy following hefty fines levied against him for defamatory claims.
Among other former Trump-affiliated attorneys facing repercussions is Jenna Ellis. She was recently charged in Arizona and Georgia, having taken plea deals in both states which compel her to deliver comprehensive and truthful testimonies. Ellis, who was suspended from practicing law for three years, admitted in court to making misleading statements during her post-election representation of Trump.
Kenneth Chesebro, described as the architect behind the “fake electors” scheme, is also under legal fire. Facing forgery charges in Wisconsin and indictment charges in Georgia, Chesebro took a plea deal as his trial was about to commence. This scheme involved the submission of false documents to Congress by GOP officials in key battleground states, falsely declaring Trump as the winner.
Similarly, another Trump lawyer, James Troupis, faced charges in Wisconsin for his role in the electors scheme. Troupis had previously settled a civil lawsuit concerning this issue and had avoided criminal charges in other states up till then.
John Eastman, also charged in Arizona and Georgia, faced additional accusations by the California State Bar for his efforts to challenge the election outcome. Eastman, too, intends to appeal against a recommendation for disbarment and a fine imposed for his post-election activities.
Christina Bobb, another lawyer and former One America News anchor, now faces her first round of charges in Arizona, linked to the “fake elector” scheme. This marks her deeper entanglement with legal challenges since joining Trump’s legal team in November 2020.
In another development, Jeffrey Clark, a former Department of Justice attorney, was recommended for a two-year suspension from practicing law by a D.C. disciplinary panel due to his involvement in Trump’s post-election strategies. Clark, too, has faced criminal charges in Georgia.
In contrast, Sidney Powell, who has been a visible figure in post-election litigation, faced a thwarted disciplinary attempt by the Texas State Bar. However, she remains under investigation in Michigan and various defamation lawsuits, along with federal scrutiny into her organization’s fundraising activities.
Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen served a three-year sentence for tax evasion and campaign finance-related crimes, linked to payments aimed at silencing allegations of Trump’s affairs.
Alina Habba, Trump’s attorney in several post-presidency legal challenges, has also faced sanctions, including a significant fine alongside Trump in a failed lawsuit against Hillary Clinton.
These legal entanglements reflect a broader trend of accountability facing lawyers who participated in Trump’s efforts to contest the 2020 election results. Meanwhile, multiple criminal cases in Arizona and Wisconsin continue to develop, with no trial dates set yet for those without plea deals in Georgia, including Giuliani, Eastman, Clark, and other defendants. As the legal curtains draw back further, these attorneys confront a gauntlet of penalties and public scrutiny, shaping a post-election narrative marked by legal battles and ethical reckonings.