WASHINGTON — Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City deeply involved in controversies over attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, encountered a major setback on Tuesday with his official disbarment in New York State. This ruling extends the ongoing legal and professional fallout from Giuliani's role in promoting unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud following Joe Biden's electoral victory.

Giuliani, currently facing legal challenges in Georgia and Arizona and implicated as an unindicted co-conspirator in a federal election interference case involving former President Donald Trump, was found by a New York appeals court to have made false statements devoid of a "good faith basis" regarding the election outcomes. The court specifically pointed to Giuliani's statements during a post-election press conference held at Four Seasons Total Landscaping, which coincided with major news networks projecting Biden's win, where he perpetuated baseless narratives of election fraud.

"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 court's decision emphasized, highlighting the absence of factual support for Giuliani's assertions.

Giuliani's disbarment in New York follows a similar recommendation from the D.C. Bar’s Board of Professional Responsibility in Washington, illustrating the extensive legal repercussions he has faced compared to Trump himself in the aftermath of the election. Earlier in May, Giuliani's radio show was suspended by WABC and subsequently canceled due to persistent false claims about the election, which posed potential legal liabilities for the station.

Separately, Giuliani was held liable by a federal judge for defamatory remarks directed at two Georgia poll workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, resulting in a jury awarding them $148 million in damages. Giuliani falsely accused them of involvement in election fraud based on misleading interpretations of surveillance footage, triggering racist attacks and threats against the innocent individuals.

During the disciplinary proceedings in New York, Giuliani admitted that his claims of thousands of fraudulent votes cast in the names of deceased individuals in Philadelphia during the 2020 election lacked factual basis. The referee overseeing the case identified 16 instances where Giuliani deliberately disseminated falsehoods as part of a deliberate pattern intended to mislead the public.

Furthermore, the disciplinary decision accused Giuliani of attempting to deceive officials during the process, further undermining his credibility and professional standing. In response to the disbarment, Ted Goodman, a spokesperson for Giuliani, criticized the ruling as "politically and ideologically corrupted" and alleged it was flawed.

Barry Kamins, a former judge and Giuliani's attorney, indicated that they are considering their options for appeal, expressing Giuliani's disappointment with the outcome.

The disbarment of Rudy Giuliani in New York represents a significant milestone in his legal and professional decline, underscoring the severe consequences for disseminating misinformation and undermining public trust in the electoral process. As Giuliani explores potential avenues for appeal, the decision serves as a stark reminder of the accountability facing public figures for their actions and statements, particularly in matters of national significance such as election integrity.