News

Giuliani’s Ukraine Associates Lev Parnas & Igor Fruman Say They’re On Trump’s Defense Team, Assert ‘Executive Privilege’

One of the two recently charged associates of Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday linked his campaign finance case to President Donald Trump directly, claiming that part of the evidence collected in the probe could potentially be considered protected by executive privilege.

Ukrainian-American businessman Lev Parnas’ claim came as he and Igor Fruman, another associate of Giuliani, pleaded not guilty to federal charges of campaign finance violations. The pair of businessmen were indicted earlier this month for making illegal donations to conservative American political candidates through straw donors in exchange for possible influence. The FBI and New York state prosecutors subpoenaed financial documents for more than 50 bank accounts before charging the two Soviet-born businessmen.

SLIDESHOW: TOP DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020

Parnas’s attorney Edward MacMahon Jr. told a federal judge in Manhattan, New York that the White House could possibly claim executive privilege by extension because Parnas had hired Giuliani as his lawyer while the former New York City mayor was in turn serving as a member of Trump’s defense team.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

“I can’t invoke [executive privilege], only the President of the United States and the government can,” MacMahon told Judge Paul Oetken. “I just wanted to raise the issue with you,” he added before saying everyone should be “sensitive” to the subject of executive privilege.

“I don’t know any more about how to invoke executive privilege than anyone else,” MacMahon later told reporters.

Giuliani has denied all wrongdoing in the case, and has refused to cooperate with subpoenas for documents from House Democrats as part of their impeachment inquiry. Parnas and Fruman were also subpoenaed by lawmakers.

Giuliani has admitted, however, that he and his associates coordinated with Ukrainian officials to get dirt on Joe Biden and his son Hunter, as well as former U.S. Ambassador to the Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch and others.

Parnas and Fruman are expected to return to court on Dec. 2.

 

Pablo Mena

Writer for upolitics.com. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.

Recent Posts

Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Says ‘Gates Of Hell’ Will Be Opened On Opponents If Trump Is Reelected

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn declared that the "gates of hell" would be unleashed if former…

14 hours ago

VIDEO: Kamala Harris Hugs First Person In Line For Her Ellipse Rally, Chats With Her Mom

https://youtu.be/JQCdk-71tG0 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris met with the woman who was the first in…

15 hours ago

VIDEO: Harris Vows To Put ‘Country Above Party’ In Front Of 75,000 People At The Ellipse

https://youtu.be/xc72fdqkaVc Vice President Kamala Harris vowed to put “country above party and above self” as…

1 day ago

Trump-Friendly Judge Aileen Cannon In The Running For Attorney General If Former President Wins Second Term

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has reportedly been placed on a list of potential attorney general candidates…

1 day ago

House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris Suggests North Carolina Award Trump Its Electoral Votes – Before Election Day

Rep. Andy Harris (R-Maryland) declared that North Carolina's state legislature should give its electors to former President Donald…

2 days ago

Trump Says He ‘Didn’t Hear’ Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe Who Called Puerto Rico ‘A Floating Pile Of Garbage’ At MSG Rally

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe has been condemned for saying that Puerto Rico is a "floating pile of garbage"…

2 days ago