This is a breaking story and may be updated.
A New York court on Thursday suspended Rudy Giuliani's license to practice law in the state, citing "demonstrably false and misleading" claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election and conduct that "threatens the public interest."
"It's now almost inconceivable that [Giuliani] will ever set foot in a courtroom again as anything other than a defendant."
"We conclude," a New York Supreme Court appellate panel wrote (pdf) in a 33-page opinion, "that there is uncontroverted evidence that respondent communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers, and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump campaign in connection with Trump's failed effort at reelection in 2020."
"These false statements were made to improperly bolster respondent's narrative that due to widespread voter fraud, victory in the 2020 United States presidential election was stolen from his client," the panel said.
The suspension, said government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, "is a good first step towards holding Rudy Giuliani accountable for his attempts to undermine democracy."
In a tweet responding to the development, Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.) referenced a letter he wrote in January with Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) to the New York State Bar Association calling for Giuliani to be disbarred.
Jones called Giuliani "a disgrace to the legal profession" who "helped incite the insurrection at the Capitol."
"I'm glad his law license has been suspended," Jones added.
According to lawyer and Washington Post columnist George Conway, "It's now almost inconceivable that [Giuliani] will ever set foot in a courtroom again as anything other than a defendant."
