Report Claims Giuliani Misused Public Funds
EmailABC News’ Jan Simmonds Reports: This afternoon, Politico reporter Ben Smith published a story reporting that Rudy Giuliani misused public funds when he was mayor of New York to pay for secret trips to the Hamptons with his then mistress and future wife Judith Nathan.
"Giuliani billed obscure city agencies for tens of thousands of dollars in security expenses amassed during the time when he was beginning an extramarital relationship with future wife Judith Nathan in the Hamptons, according to previously undisclosed government records," Smith reports.
The documents, which Politico obtained via the New York Freedom of Information Law, shows that the mayoral costs of the trips to the Hamptons appear to have had little to do with the functions of the city offices they were charged to.
Regardless of the reason the former Mayor made the trips to the Hamptons, security was a necessity as Mayor of New York and was the routine rather then the exception, even for unofficial business. When the campaign was asked directly about what the nature of these reported trips were, the campaign said it was not prepared to answer those questions at this time but noted that they were looking into it.
The allegations, if true, could blow a huge hole into some of the major themes Giuliani has based his campaign on: law and order, defeating corruption, and government accountability.
At the site of Wednesday evening’s debate in St. Petersburg, Florida, Giuliani surrogate Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., defended his friend.
"First of all I can assure you, all the details will come out. I can absolutely assure you of this," said King. "The mayor did absolutely nothing improper, he did everything appropriate, the NYPD did everything appropriate. And even if you read the story carefully it does not say the mayor billed anyone for anything. But again, Mayor Giuliani and his staff, city hall will give a definitive answer. But I can assure you now that everything was done properly and there is absolutely nothing to it."
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
Corruption and hypocrisy in the Republican Party. This is news?????
Posted by: Scott | November 28, 2007, 6:44 pm 6:44 pm
I am pleased to hear about Massachusetts attempt to ban spanking…I work at a domestic violence program in Pennsylvania and agree with the comment that if men do it it women it’s violence…same with kids…let’s stop using our hands to correct behavior of children.
Posted by: Peg Ruddy | November 28, 2007, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
The Clintons also have a lot of dirty laundry with regards to taxes.
Posted by: Luis Rodriguez | November 28, 2007, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
Giuliani-another corrupt Republican? Well then, he’ll win the Republican nomination for sure!
Posted by: kenny | November 28, 2007, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
Another day…another Republican scandal. Like clockwork.
Posted by: wilder5121 | November 28, 2007, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
I don’t like Giuliani, but guys lets remember he is innocent until proven guilty…..oh I forgot that is how it used to be before they past the Patriot Act right? Actually I am sure he was doing exactly what has been reported.
Posted by: Tess | November 28, 2007, 7:08 pm 7:08 pm
Yes, the “family values” party is going to have a hard time swallowing this one.
(or spitting?)
Posted by: elmerg | November 28, 2007, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
He’s a republican.That’s Latin for liar.The’ll lose records of it just like they lost georgies Guard records.
Posted by: Rayne Heffner | November 28, 2007, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
Giulliani would make a good President for a High School class; but this sort of corruption has already claimed to many people to be acceptable for this country; for my money I’d vote for John Edwards as a man of skill, integrity and possibly even dominion and astonishment!
Giulliani unfortunately has already been bought and sold.
Posted by: P Dalton | November 28, 2007, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
Oh stop it Peg Ruddy – puuu .. leez!! Kids need spanked and so do women – wake up!
Posted by: Craig James | November 28, 2007, 7:34 pm 7:34 pm
This is a poorly titled article.
This was investigated before and there is very little to suggest anything improper.
ABC has a responsibility to use professional restraint in covering this, rather than doing a hit job on a conservative politician.
Phil
Posted by: John | November 28, 2007, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm
The only reason I can fathom Giuliani would choose to put the NY City Emergency Command Center in the World Trade Complex and after the first attack at the WTC is corruption. Does it make sense to you?
Posted by: Benmurphynyc | November 28, 2007, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm
How long before it’s found out that this author works for the Clintons?
Posted by: Patriot2007 | November 28, 2007, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
Republican Family values and fiscal responsiblity at work I guess. Wonder if tax payers will have to fund his trists with soon-to-be wife #4, whomever that happens to be.
Posted by: AppeaseThis | November 28, 2007, 8:10 pm 8:10 pm
rudy giuliani is a quintessential republican, you’d have to be a fool to vote for him, he is one of the most egotistical lying brats the republicans could have come up with… calling him a cheater now has multi-dimensional meanings with this thug
Posted by: earthnotflat | November 28, 2007, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
those who want to immediately buy and believe these negative mudslinging stories amaze me.you are like sheep following sheep. most of them are the product of the george soros backed multimillion dollar “screw up america” propaganda machine.get in touch with reality.when you decide to embrace any ideology,you have made the decision to put on a pair of “tinted” spectacles that allow you to only see certain things!
Posted by: Edd Morton | November 28, 2007, 8:23 pm 8:23 pm
this is a boring issue, come over to the hillary posts, much more fun! :)
Posted by: geary | November 28, 2007, 8:32 pm 8:32 pm
ROFL, giuliani is a democrat disguised as a republican, and the democrats hate him. now this is what i call partisan.
Posted by: geary | November 28, 2007, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm
I see Rudy has some of his people defending him here,how special is that. The trouble is that Rudy has shown he’s a serial cheater,lacks morals,has criminals and a pedophile for best friends too. All people with bad character.The worst thing about Rudy, is that he’s shown he’s become a warmongering Neocon. That’s the last thing America needs,is another Chickenhawk Rambo type in the Whitehouse.
Posted by: AJ | November 28, 2007, 9:00 pm 9:00 pm
It’s time for a federal investigation!
Posted by: concerned_republican | November 28, 2007, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
ROFL! More Republican Family Values!
Posted by: cat | November 28, 2007, 9:44 pm 9:44 pm
see how the republican apologists try to change the story every time their corrupt lying leaders are exposed??… every gosh darned time there is a new scandal (average one per week at least) they divert the issue to ‘well look at the clintons’… while i am no apologist of any corruption from any politcial party, don’t the right wing nut jobs realize that the more they deny and divert the issue, the worse they look?
Posted by: earthnotflat | November 28, 2007, 9:48 pm 9:48 pm
EVEN BETTER — It’s Republican Family Values Meets Republican Fiscal Responsibility!! Oh the levels of Hypocrisy!!
Posted by: cat | November 28, 2007, 9:51 pm 9:51 pm
‘Yes, the “family values” party is going to have a hard time swallowing this one’ … this doesn’t seem to be the case in the little Minnesota incident
Posted by: lol | November 28, 2007, 11:06 pm 11:06 pm
He who lives in a glass house shouldn’t throw stones. I don’t see how Comptroller William Thompson has the nerve to investigate former Mayor Guiliani. Someone needs to investigate how he used the NYPD to drive him around to his girlfriends homes while he was stil married. And how he has committed voter fraud by voting from a house he doesn’t even live in.
Posted by: Betty | November 28, 2007, 11:13 pm 11:13 pm
Conservatives, please pay attention – Reality is a tough pill to swallow. The facts are these: 11 trips to the Hamptons, billed to different agencies, covered up by citing “national security”. You’re really okay with all that? One of these days you’re going to have to believe the Earth is round, the Sun revolves it, taxes are going to be paid when you live in a society (instead of anarchy), and Republicans lie. Constantly. And it ain’t the Clinton’s fault, either.
Posted by: Matt | November 28, 2007, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
Why is it everytime someone on the right is caught for something the pubbies immediately cry Clinton? You all complained about how horrible the Clintons were and are yet you choose to dismiss the misgivings of those you support by saying “The Clintons did it”. Isn’t that having your cake and eating it too? I just can’t believe you don’t see the hypocricy in this. Since when did 2 wrongs make a right? Why is it you don’t hold your own to the standards you expect from Democrats? Can one of you please step up and answer this?
Rudy is crook and no good for this country……….. just like Hillary!!!!
Posted by: dk | November 29, 2007, 12:43 am 12:43 am
I love these kind of stories about Guliani. Case in point, most people that like him are outside of New York, were he claims he was a 911 hero. I will say this…. look at how the people in the state that he “ruled” look to him and you will now the answer. Corruption, lies and no morality in his own life (which I thought the republican party revered but I guess I was wrong)
Posted by: vanyvrgs | November 29, 2007, 1:25 am 1:25 am
I guess the staff of the Clinton campaign here working on this comment page tonight.
To say one party or the other is the only one guilty of ethical and criminal misbehavior is utterly stupid. For every Republican criminal or whatever I can point out 2 Democrats guilty of the same or worst behavior and visa-versa. If you think the politicians are ethically better than the people in the other you, my friend, are naive. Look at the dishonest crap Pelosi, Murtha, etc. have done. Totally disgusting.
We, the ignorant voters, even re-elect, people convicted of crimes. I bet the odds that the congressman caught with $90,000 on ice will be re-elected are really good. We deserve what we get folks. Wake up. You don’t have to vote the party line every time you know. You have a brain and hopefully the ability to read and understand, use it.
Posted by: Mad Jayhawk | November 29, 2007, 2:25 am 2:25 am
HE WAS CHEATING ON HIS WIFE! THAT’S WHAT WAS BEHIND THESE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS AFTER THEY TRIED TO HIDE THE EXPENSES IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS’ BUDGETS! RUDY FOR PRESIDENT?!? HE IS NOT EVEN TRUSTWORTHY ENOUGH TO MANAGE A TACO BELL.
Posted by: Cynical_Me | November 29, 2007, 5:52 am 5:52 am
Mad, I’m with ya about the re-election thing but I have to question why if Mr. Jefferson (I certainly won’t call him honorable) was caught with 90K, and the case is so solid that pubs continually use him as a talking point, has he never been charged? Sure they are investigating etc etc but why no charges to this point? It’s been quite a long time since the administration released this info to make the Democrats look bad. Kind of makes you wonder doesn’t it?
Posted by: dk | November 29, 2007, 7:40 am 7:40 am
He is just like Bush and more of that should completely run us into the ground. Not to mention the fact he called an all clear on air quality after 9-11 due to financial reasons, and has perhaps put people to death due to it. Forget this story – the man is bad, bad, bad. They’re all bad. He is just a bit worse than others. We’re all arguing about who is worse here.
Posted by: Sandra | November 29, 2007, 8:21 am 8:21 am
It’s simple – he’s not qualified. He will not be the next President anyway. The other guy Mitt is a joke. He is not diverse enough. Ron Paul maybe the only Republican that understands the bitter taste the current administration left behind. He may be the only Republican candidate that will make a difference – but I doubt he will be the next President.
Posted by: sue from texas | November 29, 2007, 11:41 am 11:41 am
Let’s blame the media. It’s their fault for Giuliani’s actions.
How anyone that’s makes less then $100K a year could actually believe the Republican Party represents them is truly the greatest deception. Kudos to the Conservatives for continuing to convince our depleting middle class that you’re their party.
Posted by: Eric in SC | December 5, 2007, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm