Rudy Giuliani, one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies, has been hit with a major financial blow. A New York state judge ruled Wednesday that Giuliani must pay $1.36 million plus interest to his former defense attorneys for unpaid legal bills.
Judge Arthur Engoron sided with the powerhouse law firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron (DHC), which represented Giuliani during years of intense investigations into his work in Ukraine and his efforts to support President Trump after the 2020 election.
The Judge Behind Trump’s $500 Million Penalty
Engoron is the same liberal judge who oversaw President Trump’s civil fraud trial and slapped Trump’s business empire with a nearly $500 million penalty earlier this year — a ruling later overturned by an appeals court.
Conservatives have long accused Engoron of political bias, claiming he uses the bench to target Trump and his allies. This latest ruling against Giuliani will only fuel those concerns.
Giuliani’s Defense Rejected
Giuliani argued that he never agreed to pay the legal fees and claimed he never received the bills. Judge Engoron wasn’t buying it.
“He provides no details to support this denial,” Engoron wrote, pointing out that Giuliani’s own checks included invoice numbers tied to the law firm — evidence that directly contradicted his defense.
Giuliani now has no choice but to pay, with interest accruing since October 2023, just one month after the firm sued him.
What Giuliani Was Fighting
From 2019 to 2023, Giuliani relied on attorney Robert Costello to defend him as he faced:
- Congressional investigations tied to the January 6th Capitol protest
- Special Counsel Jack Smith’s probe, which also targeted President Trump
- Fulton County DA Fani Willis’s politically charged case in Georgia
- Ongoing legal battles in Arizona and other states
While Giuliani was never charged by Jack Smith, he was named an unindicted co-conspirator. Those charges vanished after Trump’s historic re-election victory.
Meanwhile, Fani Willis’s case collapsed this week, after she was removed from the case entirely and her final appeal was rejected.
The Financial Breakdown
The law firm initially billed Giuliani $1.57 million for years of legal work.
- He paid $194,000 upfront,
- Later added $20,000,
- But refused to pay the remaining $1.36 million.
Now, thanks to Judge Engoron’s ruling, Giuliani must pay it all back with interest, delivering a massive financial hit to the former New York City mayor.
Why This Matters for Conservatives
This case is more than just a legal dispute — it’s part of a broader war against President Trump and his allies.
Liberals are weaponizing the courts to punish anyone who stood by Trump during his first administration and his comeback victory in 2024. Giuliani’s loss is a warning sign that the left isn’t done using lawfare to attack conservatives.
Giuliani’s Health and Future
Adding to his troubles, Giuliani was seriously injured in a recent car crash, though he has since been released from the hospital.
Despite these challenges, Giuliani remains a staunch defender of Trump and a powerful voice against the radical left’s assault on free speech and justice.
Bottom Line
This ruling is a major win for the anti-Trump establishment, but it may backfire by galvanizing conservatives who see it as yet another example of politically motivated persecution.
As President Trump focuses on restoring America’s greatness, his allies continue to face relentless attacks from liberal prosecutors and judges. Giuliani’s fight is far from over — and neither is Trump’s mission to drain the swamp once and for all.