An associate of Rudy Giuliani pleaded in a letter intended for Donald Trump to grant Giuliani a “general pardon” for his activities on behalf of the then-president — and to pay him, in response to an upcoming book by journalist Andrew Kirtzman.
Maria Ryan, who co-hosts a radio program with Giuliani, also wrote within the letter that the lawyer was “praying” he can be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom within the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, The Recent York Times reported Saturday, citing Kirtzman. The Times obtained a sophisticated copy of the book “Giuliani: The Rise and Tragic Fall of America’s Mayor,” which is due out next month.
“As you recognize, he lost his job and income and more defending you throughout the Russia hoax investigation, after which the impeachment pro bono,” said the letter, in response to Kirtzman.
Ryan also sent a bill to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, requesting that $2.5 million be paid to Giuliani for his services, and he or she be paid $45,000 for herself for “working within the campaign pursuing truth and justice for the president,” the book reported.
It wasn’t clear whether Giuliani played any role within the requests.
Ryan’s letter reportedly never made it to Trump. Giuliani adviser Bernard Kerik was shocked by Ryan’s requests and stopped the letter from attending to the then-president, the book reported.
Robert Costello, an attorney representing Giuliani, told The Hill in an email that “Mayor Giuliani was unaware of those notes, in the event that they exist.”
He “didn’t authorize or request the notes. The mayor has been consistent that he never asked for a pardon and told President Trump that if he was offered a pardon he would decline it because he didn’t do anything fallacious,” Costello added.
Giuliani is currently a goal of an investigation by Georgia’s Fulton County district attorney over his role in attempting to subvert the election ends in the state. He spent hours on Wednesday taking questions before a grand jury in that investigation.
