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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Graeme Massie

Giuliani baselessly blames Biden ‘secret police’ as prosecutors eye his emails in Ukraine probe

Photograph: Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

Rudy Giuliani blamed Joe Biden’s “secret police” amid reports that federal prosecutors have discussed seizing his emails in a Ukraine probe.

Donald Trump’s personal lawyer took to Twitter and seemingly confirmed that government prosecutors have him in their sights.

Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York have discussed with the Justice Department about getting access to Mr Giuliani’s emails, according to NBC News.

“I’m proud to be number one on Biden Vindictive government list,” tweeted the former mayor of New York.

"Sounds like the DOJ anti-Trumpers can't wait for Biden to make DOJ the GOVERNMENT Secret Police like they were under Obama.

“They want to seize my emails. No reason. No wrongdoing. Attorney-Client privilege?”

It is Justice Department policy that prosecutors must get permission from Washington before asking a judge to sign a search warrant for material that may be covered by attorney-client privilege, reports NBC News.

It is not known if Southern District prosecutors were granted permission.

In October 2019 the Wall Street Journal reported that the Southern District was investigating Mr Giuliani’s business dealings in Ukraine and had looked at his bank records.

Later that month Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, two associates of Mr Giuliani, were arrested and charged with campaign finance fraud, to which they pleaded not guilty.

Both men were involved in helping Mr Giuliani try and find compromising material in Ukraine about the president-elect and his son, Hunter Biden.

In February the Washington Post reported that prosecutors had contacted witnesses and demanded documents as part of their investigation into Mr Giuliani.

Two sources told NBC News that the probe was continuing and was “very active.”

“I have no reason to believe there’s any truth to the allegations that there is renewed interest in my client,” said Robert Costello, Mr Giuliani's attorney.

A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment, as did a spokesperson for the Southern District of New York.

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