FBI Learned in 2019 That Giuliani Was at Risk of Being Used for Russian Disinfo Op: Report
RISK ANALYSIS
Rey Del Rio
The FBI learned in 2019 that Donald Trump’s key aide and personal attorney Rudy Giuliani was the target of a Russian influence operation directed against Joe Biden, The Washington Post reports. The bureau was also made aware that the far-right One America News, other members of Congress, and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) were at risk of being used as pawns in the disinfo op. Concerns over the matter had arisen around the time Giuliani traveled to Kyiv in December 2019 and met with Andrei Derkach, a Ukrainian lawmaker now deemed “an active Russian agent.” The FBI this week seized Giuliani’s cellphone and other electronic devices as part of a criminal investigation into the former New York mayor.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated after The Washington Post retracted the part of its report stating that Giuliani had been warned by the FBI that he was the target of an influence operation.