Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani insisted Thursday that the RICO laws used to indict him and other associates of former President Donald Trump in the Georgia election tampering case were meant to be used for criminal organizations — like the Biden family.
While discussing Hunter Biden’s tax fraud investigation with radio host John Catsimatidis, Giuliani, 79, said the federal racketeering charge that made him a feared federal prosecutor should be used to charge the Biden family’s “massive bribery scheme” and “not for an election dispute.”
The former Trump attorney was asked about charges that the president’s son will potentially avoid after the statute of limitations ran out on allegations of tax crimes he committed in Washington, DC, and California, where US Attorneys declined to pursue charges.
Both districts are beyond the jurisdiction of Delaware US Attorney David Weiss, who was named as special counsel in the Justice Department’s probe in the Hunter Biden case.
“There is a way around it: The legitimate use of RICO,” Giuliani said on WABC’s “Cats & Cosby Show.”
“Rather than [how] Fani Willis [is using it]. Not for an election dispute, but for a massive 30-year bribery scheme that was well over $50 million,” he said, citing information retrieved from Hunter Biden’s laptop.
“That’s what RICO was written for — for major crimes and for long-term criminal organizations. Even if you believe everything in [Willis’] indictment, it doesn’t allege a long-term criminal [scheme].”
Fulton County District Attorney Willis brought charges against Trump, Giuliani and 17 other alleged conspirators on Monday for allegedly trying to overturn the Peach State’s 2020 presidential election results, in which Trump lost to President Biden.
RICO — the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organizations — was pioneered by Giuliani as he prosecuted notorious Mafiosos in the 1980s as US attorney for the Southern District of New York.
This week, Giuliani ranted online that the grand jury indictment obtained by Willis is an abuse of Georgia’s state RICO law.
Following a five-year federal probe, Hunter Biden was charged with two tax misdemeanors for willful failure to pay federal income taxes and a felony charge for possession of an illegal firearm while addicted to illicit drugs.
The House Oversight Committee is investigating President Biden’s family and their allies’ foreign business dealings and how Hunter Biden used his father’s name and influence to secure lucrative deals.
House Republicans led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) have indicated they are close to an impeachment inquiry into whether President Biden corruptly misused his position as vice president to benefit his son Hunter and brother James’ international dealings
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer R-Ohio) in May identified nine Biden family members who allegedly got foreign funds for what he said was no apparent services provided.