Rudolph W. Giuliani, former New York City mayor and lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump, was suspended by WABC radio and had his daily talk show canceled for violating the station’s policy by discussing discredited claims about the 2020 presidential election on air. The station’s owner, billionaire Republican businessman John Catsimatidis, made the decision after Giuliani repeatedly refused to avoid the topic despite warnings. Giuliani was a prominent figure in Trump’s efforts to contest and overturn the election results, and his removal from WABC could add to his legal and financial troubles.
Giuliani, who has been criminally charged in two states and faces a number of lawsuits, has also been embroiled in financial issues including owing $148 million to election workers in Georgia he defamed after the 2020 election. WABC, under Catsimatidis, has been a platform for conservative voices and colorful New York City characters, with Giuliani’s show being one of the station’s main attractions. Giuliani did not receive a salary for his show at WABC, instead earning a portion of the advertising revenue, and also hosts a daily program on the conservative video platform Rumble.
The incident leading to Giuliani’s suspension occurred as he was discussing the suspension of his law license in New York, with employees in the control room cutting him off midsentence. Curtis Sliwa, a former Republican candidate for mayor and WABC host, then announced breaking news about a legal case involving former New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Catsimatidis said the decision to suspend Giuliani was difficult, as he has known Giuliani for four decades and considers him a person he likes. However, he emphasized the importance of not crossing certain lines on air.
A memo dated January 12, 2021, was shared by Catsimatidis, outlining the company’s policy for on-air talent not to suggest or imply that the election results were invalid or that the election was not over, following the storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of Trump. Catsimatidis, who has his own history with Trump, hosting him on WABC in 2022 and co-chairing a fundraiser for his campaign and the Republican National Committee, expressed his own views on the last presidential election as “life goes on,” but emphasized the importance of adhering to company policy. Giuliani’s removal from WABC denies him one of his last mainstream public platforms and could further impact his legal and financial troubles.
