Giuliani says he would be willing to testify in impeachment trial

by Brett Samuels - 12/31/19 9:32 PM ET

Rudy Giuliani, who serves as President Trump’s personal attorney, said Tuesday night that he would be willing to testify in a Senate impeachment trial for the president.

“I would testify,” Giuliani told reporters as he arrived at a New Year’s Eve party at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

He added that he could “do demonstrations” and that he’d “love to try the case.”

Giuliani is not expected to be a part of Trump’s defense team.

At Trump’s Mar-a-Lago #NYE2020 party, Rudy Giuliani says “I would testify” in the impeachment hearing pic.twitter.com/uO82niw86g

— QuickTake by Bloomberg (@QuickTake) January 1, 2020

Senators have reached an impasse over the parameters of a trial. One of the most divisive issues is whether witnesses should be called to testify.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other GOP senators have said they would prefer a quick trial that ends in Trump’s acquittal, while Democrats are pushing for multiple administration officials to testify.

Giuliani has been at the center of the impeachment proceedings and would be a witness of great interest for Democrats, who believe the president’s attorney carried out a shadow foreign policy in Ukraine.

The House earlier this month passed two articles of impeachment against Trump: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Democrats allege Trump made a White House meeting and security assistance for Ukraine contingent on the country announcing investigations into the president’s political rivals.

Giuliani has spoken about meeting with Ukrainian officials to obtain damaging information about Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

The president’s attorney traveled to Ukraine earlier this month to meet with several officials on the subject, and he has said he hopes to brief Republican lawmakers on his findings.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has said Giuliani is welcome to testify before his committee, though it’s unclear if Republicans would welcome him as part of the impeachment process.

Tags Donald Trump Joe Biden Lindsey Graham Mitch McConnell Rudy Giuliani