Giuliani facing DOJ inquiry into Turkey lobbying: report

The Justice Department is investigating Rudy Giuliani over alleged efforts to lobby former President Trump on behalf of Turkish interests, Bloomberg News reported Tuesday.  

In 2017, Giuliani pushed Trump to drop federal charges against Reza Zarrab, an Iranian-Turkish gold trader accused of helping a state-owned Turkish bank funnel $10 billion to Iran in defiance of U.S. sanctions. He also urged Trump to extradite exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen to Turkey, a top priority of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. 

Federal prosecutors are investigating whether Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney and a former New York City mayor, made the requests on behalf of the Turkish government. The Justice Department could require Giuliani to register as a foreign agent and disclose his Turkish contacts, Bloomberg reported.  

Giuliani, who has not reported his influence activity in public filings, has denied lobbying for foreign interests. A lawyer for Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump ultimately did not go forward with either of Giuliani’s requests. Zarrab later pleaded guilty to evading sanctions and directly implicated Erdoğan in the scheme. 

FBI agents seized Giuliani’s electronic devices in April as part of an investigation into his dealings with Ukrainian interests. Prosecutors are investigating whether Giuliani lobbied Trump on behalf of Ukrainian oligarchs without registering as a foreign agent. 

Giuliani allegedly worked with Ukrainian interests to dig up dirt on President Biden, then a Democratic presidential candidate. 

The Justice Department has put an increased focus on unreported foreign influence activity in recent years. Prosecutors are reportedly planning to force Las Vegas casino developer Steve Wynn to register as a foreign agent for allegedly lobbying Trump on behalf of Chinese interests.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.