Rudy Giuliani's lawyer says former NYC mayor may have a lung disease related to 9/11

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is suffering from a 'possible' lung disease related to 9/11, his lawyers have claimed in a new court filing.

Attorneys Gary C. Fischoff and Joan A. Keely, acting on behalf of Giuliani, alleged in a 17-page court filing that the politician's potential condition could limit his 'future health' and 'future earning capacity'.

It comes after creditors last month requested that a bankruptcy judge immediately appoint a trustee to oversee the ex-mayor's finances after he filed for bankruptcy in December 2023 amid mounting legal issues.

The document, filed on Monday in New York, objected the plans to appoint a trustee to manage his debts and argued that the 80-year-old has not been hiding assets or misleading creditors about his income.

Also on Monday, authorities in Arizona released a mug shot of Giuliani in connection to his indictment in the state's 'fake electors' case, which he is accused of pressuring election officials to change the results of the 2020 election.

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is suffering from a 'possible' lung disease related to 9/11, his lawyers have claimed in a new court filing. Giuliani (center) is pictured touring Ground Zero with then-New York Gov. George Pataki (left) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (right) on September 12, 2001

Authorities in Arizona on Monday released a mug shot of Giuliani (pictured) in connection to his indictment in the state's 'fake electors' case, which he is accused of pressuring election officials to change the results of the 2020 election

Giuliani filed for bankruptcy in New York in December last year with staggering debts of $153million owed to creditors including two Georgia election workers he defamed, lawyers, the IRS, and Hunter Biden.

The NYC leader, who became known as 'America's Mayor' in the wake of 9/11, filed court documents showing he had less than $10million in assets.

His bankruptcy filing came after a jury ordered him to pay $148million in damages to election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss for claiming they tried to rig the vote for Joe Biden. 

Lawyers for his creditors on May 28 argued in a court filing that a bankruptcy trustee should take over his assets, alleging Giuliani repeatedly lied and deceived creditors about his finances to avoid paying his debts.

But Giuliani's lawyers hit back on Monday, claiming that there 'there is nothing new or unusual about the manner in which [he] operates.'  

Fischoff and Keely, in the court filing obtained by DailyMail.com, argued that adding a trustee to his accounts would 'add a new expensive layer of administration' for Giuliani - which they claim would not improve the prospect of repayment for creditors or expand his income.

They claimed that since he has been barred from practicing law, Giuliani's 'only source of employment income is generated from his personal services'.

Citing business ventures including his brand Rudy Coffee and podcast America's Mayor Live, the attorneys argued that the funds currently coming into his estate are 'modest'.

Rudy Giuliani wears a dust mask after a tour of the damage in Lower Manhattan on September 12, 2001 - one day after a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center

The filing alleged that he is currently employed by his own firm, Giuliani Communications LLC, and that his 'gross income for his services are deposited into the entity'. 

It also claimed that in the past, 'when the business revenue was insufficient to cover the business expenses', Giuliani used his 'personal funds' to cover the company's expenses.

'There is nothing new or unusual about the manner in which [Giuliani] operates,' the filing states. 'He has always used the income he generates to pay business expenses and then use any remainder to cover personal expenses.' 

His attorneys further argued that, however, at the conclusion of 'most months', his company's gross revenue does not exceed its expenses and therefore he receives 'no personal income'.

They also denied the allegations by the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, who have sought for a trustee to manage his accounts, that Giuliani 'improperly paid $28,000' for his ex-mother-in-law's nursing home care.

Citing the alleged agreements of his divorce, Fischoff and Keely claimed that Giuliani agreed to 'continue to pay expenses for [his ex's] mother' as he had been doing during the divorce case.

His membership at the Palm Beach Yacht Club, the Metropolitan Club in New York and the Metropolitan Museum of Art were also scrutinized by the Committee. 

His lawyers, hitting back once again, claimed the fact that Giuliani 'may frequent from time to time a club he is or was a member of' does not equate to 'dishonesty or fraud'.  

Additionally, Fischoff and Keely criticized the Committee's recommendation that Giuliani should 'obtain a "paying job" to help pay more than $150,000,00 of claims'.

They added: 'Maybe the Committee also has a suggestion on who would employ an 80 year old disbarred attorney.' 

The court filing claimed that since he has been barred from practicing law, Giuliani's 'only source of employment income is generated from his personal services', including his podcast America's Mayor Live. Giuliani is pictured hosting the show last year

Citing business ventures including the podcast and his brand Rudy Coffee, (pictured) Giuliani's attorneys argued that the funds currently coming into his estate are 'modest'

Fischoff and Keely filed the opposition to the Committee's request for a financial trustee the same day that officials in Maricopa County, Arizona released Giuliani's latest mugshot.

The 80-year-old posed for his booking photo after he was indicted in Maricopa County for allegedly pressuring election officials to change the results of the 2020 election. He is seen smirking and looking down in front of the camera. 

It's Giuliani's second mugshot, after he was also indicted in August 2023 on election fraud charges in Fulton County along with Donald Trump.

'America's Mayor' has pleaded not guilty to nine charges against him after he appeared in court virtually for a hearing on May 21, where a judge threatened to mute him.

Giuliani is also facing charges in Fulton County, Georgia – where he is among the 18 co-defendants of former President Trump in the election interference case brought by District Attorney Fani Willis. 

He came to global prominence as the mayor of New York City on 9/11, but in recent years he became known as Trump's personal lawyer, and a key adviser on his efforts to hold on to power after the 2020 election. 

It's Giuliani's second mugshot, after he was also indicted in August 2023 on election fraud charges in Fulton County along with Donald Trump

Just three days before the headshot in the Arizona case was released, Giuliani sparked furious backlash over his comments at the ReAwaken America Tour where he called Willis a 'ho' at an event at a mega church in Michigan. 

Meanwhile, at the hearing in Arizona, the judge gave Giuliani 30 days to turn himself in to be arrested.

She also allowed the cash-strapped defendant who has filed for bankruptcy to provide a secured bond for that amount.

Her admonition came as Giuliani attacked the indictment against him and stressed financial hardships, while noting that he has showed up for repeat court appearances.

'I've been sued about 20 to 25 times by a very similar movement to this one, which is the, let's see what we can do to destroy Donald Trump,' Giuliani complained in his online appearance.

'I do consider this indictment a complete embarrassment to the American legal system, but I've shown no tendency not to comply.'

A spokesman for the Trump ally lamented to DailyMail.com that the indictment is 'yet another example of partisan actors weaponizing the criminal justice system to interfere with the 2024 presidential election.' 

'Mayor Rudy Giuliani... will be fully vindicated,' Ted Goodman added. 

Giuliani has filed for bankruptcy and has faced mounting legal issues in the last two years 

Giuliani was served notice of his indictment in the Arizona 'fake electors' case as he celebrated his 80th birthday with MAGA allies including Roger Stone and Steve Bannon in Palm Beach last month.

'The mayor was completely unfazed and even laughed as he was handed the papers and drove away,' said an outraged attendee.

'Guests were visibly angry as they shouted at the individuals that served the former mayor.'

Some were left in tears, said the source, as if it were all a part of an effort to humiliate and intimidate Giuliani and his friends.

Earlier Giuliani taunted Arizona officials from the party, posting on X that they were running out of time to serve him in the case.

Prosecutors had been trying for weeks to deliver official notice that we he has to appear in court on May 21.

Giuliani spokesman Ted Goodman said the former New York mayor was unfazed by the episode.

'He enjoyed an incredible evening with hundreds of people who love him – from all walks of life – and we look forward to vindication soon,' he said.

Several members of Trump's inner circle have been indicted in the Arizona case.

Giuliani was served notice of his indictment in the Arizona 'fake electors' case as he celebrated his 80th birthday with MAGA allies including Roger Stone and Steve Bannon in Palm Beach last month

The include his former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, legal adviser Boris Epshteyn, and former campaign aide Mike Roman.

Trump himself is not named in the indictment, but he is believed to be 'Unindicted Coconspirator 1.'

'In Arizona, and the United States, the people elected Joseph Biden as President on November 3, 2020,' the indictment reads.

'Unwilling to accept this fact, defendants and unindicted coconspirators schemed to prevent the lawful transfer of the presidency to keep Unindicted Coconspirator 1 in office against the will of Arizona's voters.'