Medal for Giuliani
In America, if every sidewalk tile told the story of someone who was nobody but became somebody, it would be a long, multi-mile walk. Each of these stories could serve as the script for a Hollywood movie, with crowds flocking to see it.
But in America, there's no shortage of reverse stories, stories where people fall from the top down, even into the abyss. One such story is the life of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, whose awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom was announced by Donald Trump. When I read about the intention to honor Giuliani with this highest civilian award in the United States, I nearly fell off my chair. Why? Let me explain.
The equivalent of the Polish Order of Polonia Restituta – the Medal of Freedom – is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the country, including in the fields of culture, science, economics, or public service. Does Giuliani fit into this category?
If we were to consider his candidacy based solely on his performance as mayor of New York City, when hijacked passenger planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, causing them to collapse, he might be given the nomination, but I wouldn't be inclined to do so. Why?
In my humble opinion, he did nothing to elevate him to the status of a hero. Anyone who held the position of mayor of the "Big Apple," or any city where terrorists were to launch a devastating attack, would have done what Giuliani did. No one in his position would have sat in their office, or worse, their home, watching television. I'm certain any city official would have immediately rushed as close to the site of the attack as possible and led the rescue effort. In this moment of national catastrophe and momentary moral breakdown, America needed a hero, and Giuliani was created just such. Oprah Winfrey hailed him as America's Mayor, and Time magazine honored him with the title of "Person of the Year." I remember those days vividly and how infuriated I was by the mayor's statements, who baselessly convinced New Yorkers and the world that rescuers would surely pull people from the rubble alive. It is understandable for someone in authority to maintain faith in the hearts of families that their loved ones will return home, but as the days pass and no one is found alive, the hope that this will happen does not align with the harsh reality.
Despite this, he was practically made into a god. One study reportedly showed he was more popular than the Pope. Riding this horse, after his second term expired (the only one permitted by law), he founded a consulting firm that earned $100 million in five years. But that wasn't enough, so he supplemented his income with lectures. In 2006 alone, he delivered 124 speeches, earning over $11 million in fees.
And that's where Giuliani's hypothetical heroism ends. Then came a string of failures and actions that led to criminal charges. His grand presidential ambitions in 2008 ended in ignominious defeat. Republicans bet on John McCain, who ultimately lost to Barack Obama. Knowing he had no chance of winning the White House, but eager to return to the spotlight, he supported Donald Trump, who unexpectedly became the Republican Party's nominee in the 2016 presidential election.
By aligning himself with Trump, he put everything on the line. He became a black marketeer and began looking for leverage against his presidential opponent, Hillary Clinton. After the New York businessman's victory, he hoped Trump would appoint him Secretary of State, but he miscalculated. He became merely an advisor, devoid of any power, and later joined the president's legal team.
Giuliani's darkest days came after Trump lost the 2020 election. He had been his strongest supporter of the former president, believing the election was rigged and Trump was the true winner. As a result, Dominion, a company that makes voting machines, sued the former mayor for spreading lies about their product, and New York State and the District of Columbia stripped him of his law license.
The spread of lies about election fraud did not go unanswered. Giuliani was hit with lawsuits, eleven of which I counted. The most painful blow was the decision by a Washington jury to pay $148.1 million in damages to Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss, who worked for the Georgia election commission in 2020 and became the subject of Giuliani's conspiracy theory.
This trial, or rather its verdict, and other cases filed against him were said to have led to financial ruin for the former New York mayor. Legal costs amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and he still owes bills from law firms that represented him in these cases. Desperate, he turned to Trump for support. Did he receive it? It's unclear, as Trump is known for being reluctant to open his wallet.
Giuliani's shattered world shimmered even darker. To avoid a harsh prison sentence, his back against the wall and destitute, he had only one option: to cooperate with the prosecution and provide extensive testimony. But a stroke of luck struck him: Trump was back in the White House and could help his loyal associate. Perhaps, once he was finally behind bars, he could reduce his sentence or pardon him. The first sign that he hadn't forgotten his old pal had already been sent: his intention to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
How can such an honor be bestowed upon a disgraced man who, by a miracle, isn't already in prison? It's unimaginable to me, but Trump and his administration make such bizarre and controversial moves almost daily and see nothing wrong with it. It's a complete mismatch of values.
And one more thing: How do the best representatives of the nation who were previously honored with this prestigious medal feel, and how will the future recipients of this medal receive it, having such a recidivist in their company?
Author: Wiesław Cypryś
Photo by: CC
In America, if every sidewalk tile told the story of someone who was nobody but became somebody, it would be a long, multi-mile walk. Each of these stories could serve as the script for a Hollywood movie, with crowds flocking to see it.
But in America, there's no shortage of reverse stories, stories where people fall from the top down, even into the abyss. One such story is the life of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, whose awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom was announced by Donald Trump. When I read about the intention to honor Giuliani with this highest civilian award in the United States, I nearly fell off my chair. Why? Let me explain.
The equivalent of the Polish Order of Polonia Restituta – the Medal of Freedom – is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the country, including in the fields of culture, science, economics, or public service. Does Giuliani fit into this category?
If we were to consider his candidacy based solely on his performance as mayor of New York City, when hijacked passenger planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, causing them to collapse, he might be given the nomination, but I wouldn't be inclined to do so. Why?
In my humble opinion, he did nothing to elevate him to the status of a hero. Anyone who held the position of mayor of the "Big Apple," or any city where terrorists were to launch a devastating attack, would have done what Giuliani did. No one in his position would have sat in their office, or worse, their home, watching television. I'm certain any city official would have immediately rushed as close to the site of the attack as possible and led the rescue effort. In this moment of national catastrophe and momentary moral breakdown, America needed a hero, and Giuliani was created just such. Oprah Winfrey hailed him as America's Mayor, and Time magazine honored him with the title of "Person of the Year." I remember those days vividly and how infuriated I was by the mayor's statements, who baselessly convinced New Yorkers and the world that rescuers would surely pull people from the rubble alive. It is understandable for someone in authority to maintain faith in the hearts of families that their loved ones will return home, but as the days pass and no one is found alive, the hope that this will happen does not align with the harsh reality.
Despite this, he was practically made into a god. One study reportedly showed he was more popular than the Pope. Riding this horse, after his second term expired (the only one permitted by law), he founded a consulting firm that earned $100 million in five years. But that wasn't enough, so he supplemented his income with lectures. In 2006 alone, he delivered 124 speeches, earning over $11 million in fees.
And that's where Giuliani's hypothetical heroism ends. Then came a string of failures and actions that led to criminal charges. His grand presidential ambitions in 2008 ended in ignominious defeat. Republicans bet on John McCain, who ultimately lost to Barack Obama. Knowing he had no chance of winning the White House, but eager to return to the spotlight, he supported Donald Trump, who unexpectedly became the Republican Party's nominee in the 2016 presidential election.
By aligning himself with Trump, he put everything on the line. He became a black marketeer and began looking for leverage against his presidential opponent, Hillary Clinton. After the New York businessman's victory, he hoped Trump would appoint him Secretary of State, but he miscalculated. He became merely an advisor, devoid of any power, and later joined the president's legal team.
Giuliani's darkest days came after Trump lost the 2020 election. He had been his strongest supporter of the former president, believing the election was rigged and Trump was the true winner. As a result, Dominion, a company that makes voting machines, sued the former mayor for spreading lies about their product, and New York State and the District of Columbia stripped him of his law license.
The spread of lies about election fraud did not go unanswered. Giuliani was hit with lawsuits, eleven of which I counted. The most painful blow was the decision by a Washington jury to pay $148.1 million in damages to Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss, who worked for the Georgia election commission in 2020 and became the subject of Giuliani's conspiracy theory.
This trial, or rather its verdict, and other cases filed against him were said to have led to financial ruin for the former New York mayor. Legal costs amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and he still owes bills from law firms that represented him in these cases. Desperate, he turned to Trump for support. Did he receive it? It's unclear, as Trump is known for being reluctant to open his wallet.
Giuliani's shattered world shimmered even darker. To avoid a harsh prison sentence, his back against the wall and destitute, he had only one option: to cooperate with the prosecution and provide extensive testimony. But a stroke of luck struck him: Trump was back in the White House and could help his loyal associate. Perhaps, once he was finally behind bars, he could reduce his sentence or pardon him. The first sign that he hadn't forgotten his old pal had already been sent: his intention to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
How can such an honor be bestowed on a disgraced man who, by a miracle, isn't already in prison? It's unimaginable to me, but Trump and his administration make such bizarre and controversial moves almost daily and see nothing wrong with it. It's a complete mismatch of values.
And one more thing: How do the best representatives of the nation who were previously honored with this prestigious medal feel, and how will the future recipients of this medal receive it, having such a recidivist in their company?
Author: Wiesław Cypryś
Photo by: CC
In America, if every sidewalk tile told the story of someone who was nobody but became somebody, it would be a long, multi-mile walk. Each of these stories could serve as the script for a Hollywood movie, with crowds flocking to see it.
But in America, there's no shortage of reverse stories, stories where people fall from the top down, even into the abyss. One such story is the life of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, whose awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom was announced by Donald Trump. When I read about the intention to honor Giuliani with this highest civilian award in the United States, I nearly fell off my chair. Why? Let me explain.
The equivalent of the Polish Order of Polonia Restituta – the Medal of Freedom – is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the country, including in the fields of culture, science, economics, or public service. Does Giuliani fit into this category?
If we were to consider his candidacy based solely on his performance as mayor of New York City, when hijacked passenger planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, causing them to collapse, he might be given the nomination, but I wouldn't be inclined to do so. Why?
In my humble opinion, he did nothing to elevate him to the status of a hero. Anyone who held the position of mayor of the "Big Apple," or any city where terrorists were to launch a devastating attack, would have done what Giuliani did. No one in his position would have sat in their office, or worse, their home, watching television. I'm certain any city official would have immediately rushed as close to the site of the attack as possible and led the rescue effort. In this moment of national catastrophe and momentary moral breakdown, America needed a hero, and Giuliani was created just such. Oprah Winfrey hailed him as America's Mayor, and Time magazine honored him with the title of "Person of the Year." I remember those days vividly and how infuriated I was by the mayor's statements, who baselessly convinced New Yorkers and the world that rescuers would surely pull people from the rubble alive. It is understandable for someone in authority to maintain faith in the hearts of families that their loved ones will return home, but as the days pass and no one is found alive, the hope that this will happen does not align with the harsh reality.
Despite this, he was practically made into a god. One study reportedly showed he was more popular than the Pope. Riding this horse, after his second term expired (the only one permitted by law), he founded a consulting firm that earned $100 million in five years. But that wasn't enough, so he supplemented his income with lectures. In 2006 alone, he delivered 124 speeches, earning over $11 million in fees.
And that's where Giuliani's hypothetical heroism ends. Then came a string of failures and actions that led to criminal charges. His grand presidential ambitions in 2008 ended in ignominious defeat. Republicans bet on John McCain, who ultimately lost to Barack Obama. Knowing he had no chance of winning the White House, but eager to return to the spotlight, he supported Donald Trump, who unexpectedly became the Republican Party's nominee in the 2016 presidential election.
By aligning himself with Trump, he put everything on the line. He became a black marketeer and began looking for leverage against his presidential opponent, Hillary Clinton. After the New York businessman's victory, he hoped Trump would appoint him Secretary of State, but he miscalculated. He became merely an advisor, devoid of any power, and later joined the president's legal team.
Giuliani's darkest days came after Trump lost the 2020 election. He had been his strongest supporter of the former president, believing the election was rigged and Trump was the true winner. As a result, Dominion, a company that makes voting machines, sued the former mayor for spreading lies about their product, and New York State and the District of Columbia stripped him of his law license.
The spread of lies about election fraud did not go unanswered. Giuliani was hit with lawsuits, eleven of which I counted. The most painful blow was the decision by a Washington jury to pay $148.1 million in damages to Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss, who worked for the Georgia election commission in 2020 and became the subject of Giuliani's conspiracy theory.
This trial, or rather its verdict, and other cases filed against him were said to have led to financial ruin for the former New York mayor. Legal costs amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and he still owes bills from law firms that represented him in these cases. Desperate, he turned to Trump for support. Did he receive it? It's unclear, as Trump is known for being reluctant to open his wallet.
Giuliani's shattered world shimmered even darker. To avoid a harsh prison sentence, his back against the wall and destitute, he had only one option: to cooperate with the prosecution and provide extensive testimony. But a stroke of luck struck him: Trump was back in the White House and could help his loyal associate. Perhaps, once he was finally behind bars, he could reduce his sentence or pardon him. The first sign that he hadn't forgotten his old pal had already been sent: his intention to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
How can such an honor be bestowed on a disgraced man who, by a miracle, isn't already in prison? It's unimaginable to me, but Trump and his administration make such bizarre and controversial moves almost daily and see nothing wrong with it. It's a complete mismatch of values.
And one more thing: How do the best representatives of the nation who were previously honored with this prestigious medal feel, and how will the future recipients of this medal receive it, having such a recidivist in their company?
Author: Wiesław Cypryś
Photo by: CC
In America, if every sidewalk tile told the story of someone who was nobody but became somebody, it would be a long, multi-mile walk. Each of these stories could serve as the script for a Hollywood movie, with crowds flocking to see it.
But in America, there's no shortage of reverse stories, stories where people fall from the top down, even into the abyss. One such story is the life of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, whose awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom was announced by Donald Trump. When I read about the intention to honor Giuliani with this highest civilian award in the United States, I nearly fell off my chair. Why? Let me explain.
The equivalent of the Polish Order of Polonia Restituta – the Medal of Freedom – is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the country, including in the fields of culture, science, economics, or public service. Does Giuliani fit into this category?
If we were to consider his candidacy based solely on his performance as mayor of New York City, when hijacked passenger planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, causing them to collapse, he might be given the nomination, but I wouldn't be inclined to do so. Why?
In my humble opinion, he did nothing to elevate him to the status of a hero. Anyone who held the position of mayor of the "Big Apple," or any city where terrorists were to launch a devastating attack, would have done what Giuliani did. No one in his position would have sat in their office, or worse, their home, watching television. I'm certain any city official would have immediately rushed as close to the site of the attack as possible and led the rescue effort. In this moment of national catastrophe and momentary moral breakdown, America needed a hero, and Giuliani was created just such. Oprah Winfrey hailed him as America's Mayor, and Time magazine honored him with the title of "Person of the Year." I remember those days vividly and how infuriated I was by the mayor's statements, who baselessly convinced New Yorkers and the world that rescuers would surely pull people from the rubble alive. It is understandable for someone in authority to maintain faith in the hearts of families that their loved ones will return home, but as the days pass and no one is found alive, the hope that this will happen does not align with the harsh reality.
Despite this, he was practically made into a god. One study reportedly showed he was more popular than the Pope. Riding this horse, after his second term expired (the only one permitted by law), he founded a consulting firm that earned $100 million in five years. But that wasn't enough, so he supplemented his income with lectures. In 2006 alone, he delivered 124 speeches, earning over $11 million in fees.
And that's where Giuliani's hypothetical heroism ends. Then came a string of failures and actions that led to criminal charges. His grand presidential ambitions in 2008 ended in ignominious defeat. Republicans bet on John McCain, who ultimately lost to Barack Obama. Knowing he had no chance of winning the White House, but eager to return to the spotlight, he supported Donald Trump, who unexpectedly became the Republican Party's nominee in the 2016 presidential election.
By aligning himself with Trump, he put everything on the line. He became a black marketeer and began looking for leverage against his presidential opponent, Hillary Clinton. After the New York businessman's victory, he hoped Trump would appoint him Secretary of State, but he miscalculated. He became merely an advisor, devoid of any power, and later joined the president's legal team.
Giuliani's darkest days came after Trump lost the 2020 election. He had been his strongest supporter of the former president, believing the election was rigged and Trump was the true winner. As a result, Dominion, a company that makes voting machines, sued the former mayor for spreading lies about their product, and New York State and the District of Columbia stripped him of his law license.
The spread of lies about election fraud did not go unanswered. Giuliani was hit with lawsuits, eleven of which I counted. The most painful blow was the decision by a Washington jury to pay $148.1 million in damages to Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss, who worked for the Georgia election commission in 2020 and became the subject of Giuliani's conspiracy theory.
This trial, or rather its verdict, and other cases filed against him were said to have led to financial ruin for the former New York mayor. Legal costs amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and he still owes bills from law firms that represented him in these cases. Desperate, he turned to Trump for support. Did he receive it? It's unclear, as Trump is known for being reluctant to open his wallet.
Giuliani's shattered world shimmered even darker. To avoid a harsh prison sentence, his back against the wall and destitute, he had only one option: to cooperate with the prosecution and provide extensive testimony. But a stroke of luck struck him: Trump was back in the White House and could help his loyal associate. Perhaps, once he was finally behind bars, he could reduce his sentence or pardon him. The first sign that he hadn't forgotten his old pal had already been sent: his intention to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
How can such an honor be bestowed on a disgraced man who, by a miracle, isn't already in prison? It's unimaginable to me, but Trump and his administration make such bizarre and controversial moves almost daily and see nothing wrong with it. It's a complete mismatch of values.
And one more thing: How do the best representatives of the nation who were previously honored with this prestigious medal feel, and how will the future recipients of this medal receive it, having such a recidivist in their company?
Author: Wiesław Cypryś
Photo by: CC
In America, if every sidewalk tile told the story of someone who was nobody but became somebody, it would be a long, multi-mile walk. Each of these stories could serve as the script for a Hollywood movie, with crowds flocking to see it.
But in America, there's no shortage of reverse stories, stories where people fall from the top down, even into the abyss. One such story is the life of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, whose awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom was announced by Donald Trump. When I read about the intention to honor Giuliani with this highest civilian award in the United States, I nearly fell off my chair. Why? Let me explain.
The equivalent of the Polish Order of Polonia Restituta – the Medal of Freedom – is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the country, including in the fields of culture, science, economics, or public service. Does Giuliani fit into this category?
If we were to consider his candidacy based solely on his performance as mayor of New York City, when hijacked passenger planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, causing them to collapse, he might be given the nomination, but I wouldn't be inclined to do so. Why?
In my humble opinion, he did nothing to elevate him to the status of a hero. Anyone who held the position of mayor of the "Big Apple," or any city where terrorists were to launch a devastating attack, would have done what Giuliani did. No one in his position would have sat in their office, or worse, their home, watching television. I'm certain any city official would have immediately rushed as close to the site of the attack as possible and led the rescue effort. In this moment of national catastrophe and momentary moral breakdown, America needed a hero, and Giuliani was created just such. Oprah Winfrey hailed him as America's Mayor, and Time magazine honored him with the title of "Person of the Year." I remember those days vividly and how infuriated I was by the mayor's statements, who baselessly convinced New Yorkers and the world that rescuers would surely pull people from the rubble alive. It is understandable for someone in authority to maintain faith in the hearts of families that their loved ones will return home, but as the days pass and no one is found alive, the hope that this will happen does not align with the harsh reality.
Despite this, he was practically made into a god. One study reportedly showed he was more popular than the Pope. Riding this horse, after his second term expired (the only one permitted by law), he founded a consulting firm that earned $100 million in five years. But that wasn't enough, so he supplemented his income with lectures. In 2006 alone, he delivered 124 speeches, earning over $11 million in fees.
And that's where Giuliani's hypothetical heroism ends. Then came a string of failures and actions that led to criminal charges. His grand presidential ambitions in 2008 ended in ignominious defeat. Republicans bet on John McCain, who ultimately lost to Barack Obama. Knowing he had no chance of winning the White House, but eager to return to the spotlight, he supported Donald Trump, who unexpectedly became the Republican Party's nominee in the 2016 presidential election.
By aligning himself with Trump, he put everything on the line. He became a black marketeer and began looking for leverage against his presidential opponent, Hillary Clinton. After the New York businessman's victory, he hoped Trump would appoint him Secretary of State, but he miscalculated. He became merely an advisor, devoid of any power, and later joined the president's legal team.
Giuliani's darkest days came after Trump lost the 2020 election. He had been his strongest supporter of the former president, believing the election was rigged and Trump was the true winner. As a result, Dominion, a company that makes voting machines, sued the former mayor for spreading lies about their product, and New York State and the District of Columbia stripped him of his law license.
The spread of lies about voter fraud has not gone unanswered. There were numerous trials against Giuliani, and I counted eleven of them. The most painful blow was the decision of a jury in Washington, which decided to pay $148.1 million in damages to Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss, who worked at the Georgia election commission in 2020 and became the heroines of Giuliani's conspiracy theory.
This trial, or rather its verdict, and other cases brought against him were to lead the former mayor of New York to financial ruin. The court costs amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and he has to pay bills from the law firms that represent or have represented him in these cases. Desperate, he turned to Trump for support. Did he receive them? We don't know because Trump is known for being reluctant to open his wallet.
Giuliani's collapsed world shimmered even blacker. To avoid a ruthless prison sentence, with his back against the wall and destitute, he had one option: to start cooperating with the prosecutor's office and giving extensive testimony. However, he got lucky: Trump is back in the White House and can help his loyal colleague. Maybe, when he finally gets behind bars, his sentence can be reduced or he can be pardoned. He has already sent the first signal that he has not forgotten about his old friend: his intention to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
How can such an honor be bestowed upon a disgraced man who, only by a miracle, is not yet in prison? It's unimaginable to me, but Trump and his administration make such strange and controversial moves almost every day and he sees nothing wrong with it. This is a total confusion of values.
And one more thing: How do the best representatives of the nation who have previously been honored with this honorable medal feel, and how will the future recipients feel about it, having such a recidivist in their company?
Author: Wiesław Cypryś
Photo author: CC
In America, if each sidewalk tile told the story of someone who was a nobody and became someone, a long, many-kilometer walk would be created. Each of these stories could be used as a screenplay for a Hollywood movie that would attract crowds.
But in the same America there is no shortage of reverse stories, when people from the top fall down, or even into the abyss. One of them is the biography of former New York mayor Rudi Giuliani, who was announced by Donald Trump to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. When I read about the intention to honor Giuliani with this highest civilian order in the United States, I almost fell off my chair. Why? I hasten to explain.
The equivalent of our Order of Polonia Restituta - the Medal of Freedom - is awarded to people who have made particular contributions to the country - including: in the field of culture, science, economy or public activity. Does Giuliani fit into this framework?
If we were to consider his candidacy only taking into account his activities as mayor of New York, when passenger planes hijacked by terrorists crashed into the two towers of the World Trade Center and led to their collapse, we could easily hand it to him, but I would not be inclined to do so. Why?
In my humble opinion, he hasn't done anything to put him on a hero's pedestal. Anyone who held the position of mayor of the Big Apple or any city that was attacked by terrorists with tragic consequences would have done what Giuliani did. No one in his position would sit in his office, or worse, in his home, watching TV. I am sure that every city mayor would immediately go as close to the site of the attack as possible and direct the rescue operation. At a moment of national catastrophe and temporary moral breakdown, America needed a hero, and Giuliani was created to be one. Operah Winfrey hailed him as America's mayor, and Time magazine honored him as "Person of the Year." I remember those days very well and how irritated I was by the mayor's statements, who baselessly told New Yorkers and the world that rescuers would definitely pull people alive from the rubble. It is understandable for someone in authority to keep faith in the hearts of families that their loved ones will return home, but when the days pass and no one is found alive, the hope that this will happen is not matched by the harsh reality.
Despite this, he was almost made into a God. Apparently one study showed that he was more popular than the pope. Riding this horse, after his second term expired (that's all the law allows), he founded a consulting company that made a hundred million dollars in five years. But it wasn't enough, so he earned extra money by giving lectures. In 2006 alone, he delivered 124 speeches for which he received fees of over $11 million.
And this is where Giuliani's hypothetical heroism ends. What followed was a series of failures and actions that led to him facing criminal charges. His extensive presidential ambitions in 2008 ended in a dismal failure. Republicans chose John McCain, who ultimately lost to Barack Obama. Knowing that he had no chance for the White House, but wanting to be in the center of events again, he supported Donald Trump, who unexpectedly became the nominee of the Republican Party in the 2016 presidential election.
By getting involved with Trump, he put everything on one card. He became a black-job man and started looking for hooks against his presidential opponent, Hillary Clinton. After the victory of the New York entrepreneur, he counted on Trump to appoint him Secretary of State, but he miscalculated. He became his advisor only, with no authority, and later joined the president's group of lawyers.
The worst days for Giuliani came after Trump lost the 2020 election. He most strongly supported the former president in the belief that the elections were rigged and that Trump was the real winner. As a result, Dominion, which makes voting machines, sued the former mayor for spreading lies about their product, and the state of New York and the District of Columbia revoked his law license.
The spread of lies about voter fraud has not gone unanswered. There were numerous trials against Giuliani, and I counted eleven of them. The most painful blow was the decision of a jury in Washington, which decided to pay $148.1 million in damages to Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss, who worked at the Georgia election commission in 2020 and became the heroines of Giuliani's conspiracy theory.
This trial, or rather its verdict, and other cases brought against him were to lead the former mayor of New York to financial ruin. The court costs amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and he has to pay bills from the law firms that represent or have represented him in these cases. Desperate, he turned to Trump for support. Did he receive them? We don't know because Trump is known for being reluctant to open his wallet.
Giuliani's collapsed world shimmered even blacker. To avoid a ruthless prison sentence, with his back against the wall and destitute, he had one option: to start cooperating with the prosecutor's office and giving extensive testimony. However, he got lucky: Trump is back in the White House and can help his loyal colleague. Maybe, when he finally gets behind bars, his sentence can be reduced or he can be pardoned. He has already sent the first signal that he has not forgotten about his old friend: his intention to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
How can such an honor be bestowed upon a disgraced man who, only by a miracle, is not yet in prison? It's unimaginable to me, but Trump and his administration make such strange and controversial moves almost every day and he sees nothing wrong with it. This is a total confusion of values.
And one more thing: How do the best representatives of the nation who have previously been honored with this honorable medal feel, and how will the future recipients feel about it, having such a recidivist in their company?
Author: Wiesław Cypryś
Photo author: CC
dziennik
