Former Fresh York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been pardoned by former President Donald Trump, alongside Mark Meadows, Trump’s former chief of staff, and others involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The pardons, announced on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, represent a final act by Trump shielding allies from potential legal repercussions.
Giuliani, 80, had been facing scrutiny and legal challenges related to his role in promoting unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud following the 2020 presidential election. He aggressively pursued legal challenges on behalf of Trump, appearing at rallies and making public statements alleging a stolen election. These efforts culminated in disciplinary action against him, leading to his disbarment from practicing law in Washington, D.C., and previously in New York.
The New York State Court of Appeals found Giuliani had “flagrantly misused his prominent position as the personal attorney for former President Trump and his campaign” in spreading false claims, according to court documents. His license to practice law in D.C. Was automatically suspended following the New York suspension in July 2021. A spokesperson for Giuliani, Ted Goodman, described the disbarment as “an absolute travesty and a total miscarriage of justice,” calling it a “partisan, politically motivated decision.”
Mark Meadows, also pardoned, served as Trump’s chief of staff during the period following the 2020 election and was a key figure in attempts to challenge the election results. The pardons extend to others who supported Trump’s efforts, though the full list of recipients has not been publicly detailed.
The timing of the pardons comes after Giuliani’s participation in a 9/11 commemoration ceremony in New York City on September 11, 2025. The pardons effectively eliminate the possibility of criminal prosecution for these individuals regarding their actions related to the 2020 election.
The Department of Justice has not commented on the pardons, and it remains unclear whether any ongoing investigations will be affected. No immediate legal challenges to the pardons have been announced.
