Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been ordered by New York Judge Arthur Engoron to pay the law firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron (DHC) more than $1.36 million in unpaid legal fees, plus interest. The firm said the total bills for partner Robert Costello\u2019s legal work amounted to $1.57 million. Giuliani previously paid $214,000, but stopped paying in 2023, according to the firm\u2019s lawsuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Judge Engoron\u2014best known for presiding over the controversial civil fraud case against Donald Trump\u2019s business empire\u2014rejected Giuliani\u2019s arguments that he never agreed to pay the fees or didn\u2019t receive the bills. Engoron noted that Giuliani had even written checks referencing the firm\u2019s file and invoice numbers, undermining his claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This ruling adds to Giuliani\u2019s mounting legal burdens from his efforts to defend former President Trump and expose alleged election irregularities following the 2020 election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Giuliani, once celebrated as \u201cAmerica\u2019s Mayor\u201d for his leadership after 9\/11, has been the target of numerous investigations since working as Trump\u2019s personal attorney. He represented Trump from November 2019 through July 2023 while fending off probes from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Giuliani has consistently argued these prosecutions are politically motivated attempts to punish Trump allies and dissuade legal challenges to election practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Judge Engoron\u2019s role has drawn skepticism from conservatives, who see him as part of a pattern of partisan lawfare against Trump-world figures. Engoron previously levied a massive $500 million civil penalty against Trump\u2019s real estate empire\u2014an unprecedented punishment that was later wiped out on appeal just last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, Engoron\u2019s decision against Giuliani forces him to pay DHC for years of legal defense work, plus accumulating interest since October 2023. Giuliani\u2019s legal team has not yet said whether they will appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This ruling is just one of several financial pressures on Giuliani. He is also facing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite this, Giuliani has maintained that he acted within the law in his efforts to challenge election results and believes he will ultimately be vindicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n