'Worthless individual': Rudy Giuliani under fire for drawing income from 9/11 charity amid financial woes

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City and an ally of ex-President Donald Trump, is facing scrutiny for receiving income from a charity established in honor of a firefighter who perished during the September 11 attacks.

This comes at a time when Giuliani is grappling with significant financial challenges and is reportedly on the brink of bankruptcy.

Rudy Giuliani's financial woes

"In a filing last week, attorneys for Mr Giuliani said that one of the former New York City mayor’s companies, Giuliani Communications, receives about $16,300 per month in income from his internet show 'America’s Mayor Live.' Mr Giuliani’s attorney said that money comes 'mainly' from the Sept 11 charity, the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation," The New York Times reported.

"The revelation of the revenue stream comes after months of deeply contentious arguments from creditors about the state of Mr Giuliani’s personal finances, with complaints that much of it remains deliberately incomplete and opaque. Only recently did creditors learn, through social media, that Mr Giuliani had a contract to earn money from a new branded coffee line."

The payments were confirmed by the foundation in a statement, “In the years following 9/11, Mayor Giuliani has been an invaluable supporter of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. He was instrumental in planning the first Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk NYC in 2002.”

Giuliani's tenure as mayor ended with acclaim for his leadership during the aftermath of 9/11, a period he frequently referenced in his political career, notably during his 2008 presidential bid.

However, his involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election has led to criminal charges in Georgia and Arizona, a nearly $150 million defamation judgment in Atlanta, and a recommendation for disbarment by an attorney ethics board in Washington, DC.

With mounting legal expenses, civil judgments, and the termination of a radio show that once provided substantial income, Giuliani is in a precarious financial position. He is currently seeking to navigate these challenges through bankruptcy proceedings.

Netizens react to Rudy Giuliani's income from 9/11 charity

A user commented on MSN, "If he is grifting off ONE charity i wont be surprised to hear he is living off another. This is not what these charities where set up to provide support to convicted criminals."

Another said, "Didn't Ghouliani drag his feet on replacing out-of-date radios for firefighters? Weren't they using analog radios on 9/11 because the new radios they had gotten (after 7 years) were defective? And now he's benefitting from a deceased firefighter's charity?"

A third added, "We really need to review laws and taxes for Charities and Non-Profits in this country. Do we really need to pay millionaires 16k a month from a charity?"

"Apparently stealing from a charity is part of the republican ethic now, disguising," read a comment. 

"What kind of slime skims money from a charity? Or is that what he gets paid to "administrate" the charity? This is why I don't give to charities. Most give less than half to the actual cause, some even worse barely 10%... Bet this charity is like that," stated a user.

"America's Mayor living off a charity founded for a fireman who was a victim of 9/11; Rudy's a sleaze for accepting it and the charity is sleazy for giving it to him rather than the family of the lost fireman. Why am I not surprised?" chimed another. 

"How dare him take $ from a charity that is meant for our fallen heroes. The courts need to reclaim that $ and give it to those who truly are deserving, not some scum bag" added a user.

Another said, "Worthless individual!"

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