Giuliani’s Law Firm Led Effort To Kill Senate Energy Bill
Giuliani’s Law Firm Led Effort To Kill Senate Energy Bill
Yesterday on NBC’s Meet the Press, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani said that he wouldn’t “sever” his “financial ties” to his consulting firm, Giuliani Partners, if he becomes president. “No, I’m an owner,” said Giuliani. He assured host Tim Russert that his ties won’t be a problem because he would “live up to whatever ethical or legal obligations are required.” Watch it:
Yet Giuliani has so far been unable to separate his campaign positions from his business interests. Giuliani is one of the utility companies’ strongest supporters. Perhaps not surprisingly, his law firm, Bracewell & Giluliani LLP was hired by these groups to lead the intense lobbying against the Senate energy bill, which would have forced utility companies to “boost electricity generated by wind, solar and other forms of renewable energy to 15 percent of the U.S. total by 2020.”
While Giuliani has stepped down as head of his law firm, he continues to “retain his equity stake in the company.” Last year, the firm paid him about $4 million, and he has collected $89,000 in contributions from Bracewell partners and employees.
A look at how Giuliani’s campaign has benefited from his law firm’s ties to the energy industry:
– Giuliani’s campaign has collected more than $400,000 from employees of companies in the oil, gas, and energy industries.
– In August, Giuliani spoke to “representatives of the coal industry at a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser…saying, ‘We have to increase our reliance on coal‘ in the future.”
– Scott Segal, a Bracewell lobbyist, “is director of the Electric Reliability Coordinating Council, an industry group that focuses on air- quality issues and includes Southern Co., Progress Energy Inc. and other utilities.” Southern Co. hired Bracewell to lead the lobbying campaign against the Senate bill.
Bracewell and Giuliani also recently dropped its contract to “lobby Texas legislators on behalf of Citgo Petroleum Corp., a Houston-based oil company ultimately controlled by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.”
UPDATE: Ari Berman at The Nation and Adam Siegel at Energy Smart have more.
Transcript:
RUSSERT: But I’m talking about — let’s talk about your –Giuliani Partners.
GIULIANI: The consulting firm, just about every single client…
(CROSSTALK)
RUSSERT: But why not put out a list to make…
GIULIANI: Because you also have, in some cases, some have gotten out where there were confidentiality agreements, but they’ve gotten out for other reasons.
RUSSERT: But you are still receiving money from your firm.
GIULIANI: But I’m not involved in the day-to-day operations. I’m an owner.
RUSSERT: But you’re receiving money, and people could sign up for your company in order to influence you if you became president. Why not just sever ties and put out a list of all your clients?
GIULIANI: Well, first of all, I couldn’t do that. I mean, I couldn’t put out a list of all my clients. There are confidentiality agreements that surround the relationship that businesses have with law firms, in particular, in some cases with security firms. So I can’t do that.
All I can tell you is the following. I can tell you that every client of GP of any significance while I was there, while I was involved in the day-to-day operations of it, has been discussed. A significant number of the Bracewell Giuliani clients have been discussed. And the reality is that none of them amount to anything other than ethical, lawful, decent work done by both companies, sometimes of the highest standards, always ethical and decent, and none of them involve any kind of conflict of any kind. And as we go along, we will explore more of it.
RUSSERT: You won’t sever your ties, your financial ties, with your company?
GIULIANI: No, I’m an owner. I mean, I severed every…
RUSSERT: But while you…
GIULIANI: I severed every tie I can thing of. I’ll live up to whatever ethical or legal obligations are required. We do all the financial disclosures. I did a very complete financial disclosure, I think it was in May. I’ll do some more complete financial disclosures.
But I’m not going to do more than what is absolutely required, and we’ll go further than that.
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Was this photo taken just as Jeff Gannon went looking for his long-lost wrist watch?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:10 pmAnd Rudy’s claiming “confidentiality agreements” prevent him from revealing his client list …you know, the one that includes his terrorist BFF, the ruler of Qatar…? The one who helped KSM escape…?
What a corrupt, crooked, moneygrubbing, lying fascist THUG.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:12 pm“…. because he would “live up to whatever ethical or legal obligations are required.â€
Which in Rudi-speak means “None whatsoever”… S.O.P. for the GOP!!
Ho… ho… ho… (that’s my Don Imus impression… pretty good, huh?)…
December 10th, 2007 at 12:13 pmJulieAnnie? Have a KeriKonflict of Inte9/11rest? Nah, say it ain’t so!
December 10th, 2007 at 12:14 pmHe assured host Tim Russert that his ties won’t be a problem because he would “live up to whatever ethical or legal obligations are required.
Whew Tim, you can sleep better now eh?
FU*K YOU JULIE-ANNIE
December 10th, 2007 at 12:17 pmRudy told Tim Russert that his ties won’t be a problem because he would “live up to whatever ethical or legal obligations are required.â€
I bet he said this to all his girlfriends and wives, too. This brings me great assurance….NOT!
December 10th, 2007 at 12:17 pmFruity Rudy’s 9/11 company capitalized on the fear 9/11 instilled in all of us.
He was too busy in his Motorola radio deal to even pay attention, but now is busy making tons of money on his 9/11 ‘expertise’.
America sees through you, Rudy. Go home & play with your new mistress.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:18 pmI get the feeling that roodee says whatever he needs to say at the moment of confrontation just to get the heat off him with no real intention of honoring what he just said. He does this knowing that today’s media isn’t about follow-up, its about the sound bite. So if his five second promise to ‘do good’ makes the evening news, then his job is done.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:25 pm“his ties won’t be a problem because he would “live up to whatever ethical or legal obligations are required.â€
Hahaha!
Who knew Rudy was a comedian?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:30 pmRudy: Just trust me.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:33 pmPicture caption contest:
Little Red Ridinghood: “My, grandma. What big eyes you have.”
Rudie: “The better to see you with, my dear!”
December 10th, 2007 at 12:34 pmHe does this knowing that today’s media isn’t about follow-up, its about the sound bite.
Comment by raynman — December 10, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
It’s how Bush has gotten away with, oh everything, for almost 7 years. No follow-up.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:35 pmA money hungry,slick and a cheater. He also surrouded himself with warmongers who are looking to benefit from the coming wars they are planning,should he win.
He is refusing to list clients’ names of his consulting firm.
He is a taxpayer abuser, with ‘get rich quick’ mentality.
send him to the dumpster.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:35 pmCaption:
“Getting sleepy – 911. Mind sleepy – 911. You’re scared – 911. Vote Rudy – 911. Ignore scandals – 911. Vote Rudy – 911.”
December 10th, 2007 at 12:36 pmRudy frightens me more than any other Republican candidate, and they’ve got some doozies on their side.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:36 pmtarazan: “He also surrouded himself with warmongers who are looking to benefit from the coming wars they are planning,should he win.”
Hell, Pat Buchanan said that a vote for Rudy is a vote for nonstop war.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:37 pmEven Dick Cheney pretended to sever all his ties with Halliburton before he took office. I guess Rudy’s approach is more honest, but still stinks to high heaven.
Of course, this is all moot — there isn’t an icicle’s chance in h*ll that Rudy will be elected. He’s such a joke that the most helpful thing that the GOP can do for the Dems is to nominate him.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:41 pmYes, Rudy will live up to whatever ethical or legal obligations are required. Not to exclude security protection and dog walking services for the current and any future mistresses. You go dawg.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:44 pmNo amount of make-up is going to help that face.
InSannity & Rush want him to be the next President. That’s reason enough for America to send this phuk-up back to NYC.
December 10th, 2007 at 1:02 pmScreenshot caption: SCARY!!! The lisping fascist is out to get YOU!
December 10th, 2007 at 1:07 pmThis article is a very good look at Giuliani’s post-mayoral business practices and how completely corrupt and sleazy he truly is. This article gives well researched example after example, it really should be required reading for anyone who supports that little tyrant wannabe and really all Americans. He truly is one dangerous, scary person and a corrupt to the core one at that
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/01/giuliani200801
December 10th, 2007 at 1:09 pmEverybody would become rich.
BWAHAHAHAAAA!
You were joking, weren’t you? Only the war profiteers will get rich from the never ending Orwellian warmonger administration…
December 10th, 2007 at 1:10 pmOK, Mr P. Go ahead and have your little fantasy.
December 10th, 2007 at 1:13 pmIt would be great!
Comment by Mayja Jenera — December 10, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
You’re campaigning for Kucinich, right?
December 10th, 2007 at 1:14 pmJulieAnnie’s just downright Thuggeristic!
December 10th, 2007 at 1:16 pmCAPTION
“Darn, Bernie, I’ve never seen you so big” !!
∞
December 10th, 2007 at 1:21 pmGermany has 30% of their energy from renewables NOW—not 15% in 2020!
December 10th, 2007 at 2:03 pmRudy “the Presidency isn’t as important to me as my money-making, but you should vote for me anyway, so I can can get my Wife upgraded. The NYPD was good at helping me get my last upgrade in place, but I’m thinking I can really score with the Secret Service at my disposal – maybe this time I’ll get that Lindsey Lohan to marry me”
December 10th, 2007 at 2:12 pmLet me predict that the fact that Rudy does business with a guy who funded the 9-11 terrorists and protected Kalid Shiek Mohammed AND Osama bin Laden will be considered a “non-story” to our corporate media.
December 10th, 2007 at 2:31 pm28 – Righties will say that’s an unfair comparison, because “there aren’t very many Mexicans in Germany”
such is the nature of their “insight” in these matters.
December 10th, 2007 at 2:32 pmRudy’s toast. In fact, all the GOP candidates are toast, each for a uniquely distasteful reason of his own. Can’t wait to see one of them go down like a ton of dung next fall. – Could be the biggest spread we’ve seen in modern times, if diebold’s hardware can be gotten rid of in time.
December 10th, 2007 at 2:34 pmI hope you’re right, Tom, but recent history suggests that our main stream media will find reasons why the democratic candidate is a creep and the republican candidate is a “good guy.” I hope it doesn’t work this time, but I certainly expect them to stay in character.
December 10th, 2007 at 2:38 pmTom, you’re right, though, we have the biggest spread in the polls in a long time. Also, Dems are running the polling in Ohio this time and Florida seems to be going to paper ballots. In addition, the attempt to subvert the California results has failed. My concern is that the media is telling Dems to nominate Barak Obama, who is technically to the right of Clinton on some very important issues. Obama can lie in our faces about his healthcare plan and the media stares off into space. They’re slamming the heck out of Hillary and completely ignoring Edwards. I would think that by now people would notice who the corporate media WANTS us to vote for
December 10th, 2007 at 2:47 pmwhy not vote for capone? he’s dead too
December 10th, 2007 at 3:20 pmNot to mention all of the arguably credible R’s who are quitting/retiring/shoosing not to run next time.
Comparing D’s and R’s is still an apples-to-dogturds endeavor – I’ll take any of the D’s, and be thrilled to have whoever it ends up being.
(and yes, I do have critiques of the D’s, but other, more pressing concerns way overshadow them)
December 10th, 2007 at 3:34 pmGuiliani was lying his ass off in this interview! Notice how he bugs his eyes several times during the interview? That’s his ‘tell’.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:04 pmSo, increasing our reliance on coal would be a good thing if we stopped just burning it and harnessed clean energy from us. I’m pretty sure Giuliani didn’t say that since he’s terrible, but taken out of context, saying we need to increase our reliance on coal isn’t all that bad. The US has the largest coal reserves in the world. If we can make engines run on coal slurry, we could remove much of our dependence on foreign oil in years to come.
Here is an article about a patent for running diesel engines in this way:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4DB153BF93AA3575AC0A96F948260
Oh, and go Ron Paul.
December 11th, 2007 at 9:14 amO leave Rudy alone. He’ doing his best…
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December 11th, 2007 at 8:17 pm