Andrew Harnik/AP
Rudy Giuliani, an attorney for President Donald Trump, speaks to reporters after speaking at the Iran Freedom Convention for Human Rights and democracy at the Grand Hyatt, Saturday, May 5, 2018, in Washington.
- Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, now President Donald Trump's personal attorney, said he doubted the veracity of a new report which detailed some questionable financial dealings of Michael Cohen, Trump's longtime personal attorney.
- The report alleged that Cohen received a $500,000 payment from a Russian oligarch after the 2016 US presidential election.
- The report was compiled by Michael Avenatti, the attorney representing adult-film film actress Stormy Daniels.
- Giuliani took a jab at Avenatti's credibility, calling him "a pretty unsuccessful lawyer."
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, now President Donald Trump's personal attorney, said he doubts the veracity of a new report which questioned the financial dealings of Michael Cohen, Trump's longtime personal attorney.
Michael Avenatti, the attorney representing adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, released the report on Tuesday, which alleged that Cohen received around $500,000 from a company with ties to Viktor Vekselberg, a Russian oligarch close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to Avenatti, the payment "may have reimbursed" Cohen's $130,000 payment made towards a nondisclosure agreement regarding an alleged sexual affair between Trump and Daniels.
"I have no idea how he would know that," Giuliani said to Bloomberg. "I have no reason to believe that anything he says is true."
Giuliani continued by taking a jab at Avenatti's credibility: "I consider him now sort of a guy who books for 'Saturday Night Live," he continued, referring to the comedy sketch show. "The guy is a pretty unsuccessful lawyer - can't remember a case he's ever had that meant anything - and I think he's desperate for money."
Some of the findings from Avenatti's report was later confirmed by The New York Times and The Daily Beast.
Avenatti, who said that his team was "just getting started," parried Giuliani's remarks and fired back on Twitter: "Mr. Giuliani - you just called me a 'pretty unsuccessful lawyer' and stated that you 'can't remember a case he's ever had that meant anything."
"First, you obviously can't remember much. Second, check my bio and you will find over a BILLION worth of verdicts and settlements. #dumb," Avenatti continued.
Earlier on Tuesday, Avenatti goaded Giuliani to a public debate over his client's ongoing defamation suit against Trump.
"I think it would be very helpful for the public to witness a discussion between Mr. Giuliani and me concerning the facts of the case, etc," Avenatti said. "I am willing to participate on any network provided both sides are provided a fair shake. I am also willing to do it on 12-hrs notice."
Giuliani, one of the latest additions to Trump's restructured legal team, has reportedly fallen out of favor with Trump after a stunning media blitz last week. Giuliani's statements raised questions about Trump's involvement in Cohen's payment and appeared to conflict with his statements from other media interviews.