[Screenshot of Cameo]
Former NYC mayor and possible werewolf Rudy Giuliani
joined Cameo the “celebrity wishes you happy birthday” app with the humble dream of bringing joy to the masses and relentlessly flogging his podcast to poor saps who already paid him to spout off to their friend. Alas, the same dolt tricked into
following an ostensible 15-year-old into a bedroom was never going to make it long with this app before doing something professionally compromising in a manner that befits an attorney that’s already had his license suspended in multiple jurisdictions.
But trolling his own client for $400 wasn’t on my card. Which sucks because I’m only a “take ivermectin live while reminding everyone to subscribe to the ‘Rudy’s Common Sense’ podcast” away from Bingo.
NY Mag’s Intelligencer obtained a Cameo of Rudy taking about a minute to thank some hard-working people. Unfortunately, what they were working on is taking down Rudy’s own client:
For 52 seconds, Giuliani reads an endorsement of several journalists and activists who have reported critically on, or campaigned against, Derwick Associates, the energy firm founded by Alejandro Betancourt, a Venezuelan businessman reportedly represented by Giuliani.
Not only did he reportedly represent Betancourt, there’s suspicion that Rudy’s efforts to get Betancourt’s back scratched by the Trump White House came as a quid pro quo of Betancourt aiding in the bogus Ukraine investigation that has Giuliani at the center of a criminal probe. Giuliani has brushed off efforts to dig into the curious timing of his efforts to help Betancourt get out of a $1.2 billion money laundering case citing attorney-client privilege.
But his duties to a former client don’t stretch far enough to avoid unwittingly making them a laughing stock for a quick $400.
But in the video, Rudy thanked — by first name only — “Reuters investigative journalist Angus Berwick; independent Venezuelan investigative journalists Cesar Batiz, Orlando Avendaño, and Alek Boyd; anti-corruption activist Thor Halvorssen; and Ronald Reagan’s ambassador to Venezuela, Otto Reich,” who have all had a role in exposing Betancourt’s company, Derwick Associates, contributing to the federal criminal case.
Rudy’s not revealing any confidences here so it’s not the sort of severe ethical breach that crapping on a former client could create. It’s just that he doesn’t bother to do even the barest of research before flinging himself into embarrassing situations: from Borat, to Four Seasons Total Landscaping, to representing Donald Trump and expecting to get paid. For a guy with a podcast named “Common Sense” he doesn’t seem to be doing all that great in that department.
Unless this is all a prelude to his insanity defense to the impending Ukraine fallout, in which case… tip of the hat to you, sir.
Giuliani Records Cameo Endorsing Case Against His Own Client [NY Mag Intelligencer]
Earlier: Rudy Giuliani Tries To Pay Mounting Legal Fees One Awkward Birthday Greeting At A Time
Rudy Giuliani Shaving Over His Food Raises So Many Questions
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.