Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani expressed astonishment after receiving a full presidential pardon from President Donald Trump, calling it a “relief after a nightmare.” Giuliani said he did not expect the clemency and claimed he was blindsided by the decision.
His comments surfaced just days after Trump granted pardons to 77 individuals connected to the 2020 election-interference case, including Giuliani. During an interview, Giuliani defended his work relating to the 2020 reporting by the New York Post on Hunter Biden’s laptop, asserting that both he and the newspaper were targeted for doing so. He said the laptop revelations vindicated his efforts and framed them as part of an effort to protect press freedom.
Giuliani also detailed personal fallout from his legal troubles: he lost his law practice, saw his bank accounts frozen, and said he faced professional ostracism. Now based in Florida and recovering from an August car accident that fractured his vertebra, Giuliani is rebuilding financially through podcasting and appearances, and said he plans to sue state officials for alleged constitutional violations.