Rudy Giuliani has filed a lawsuit against his longtime ally and former radio station owner John Catsimatidis, alleging wrongful dismissal from 77WABC radio in 2024.
The suit centers on Giuliani's suspension and subsequent non-return to his talk show on the New York station owned by Catsimatidis through Red Apple Media. Giuliani claims the action was unjust, while Catsimatidis insists it was a temporary suspension for policy violations, not a firing, and that Giuliani simply didn't return after a brief cooling-off period.
The dispute stems from events in May 2024, when Catsimatidis suspended Giuliani after repeated warnings against discussing discredited claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen via fraud. Station policy, implemented to protect against potential legal risks (similar to those faced by other outlets like Fox News in Dominion Voting Systems cases), prohibited on-air talent from questioning the election's legitimacy. Giuliani continued to address the topic despite directives, leading to his removal from airwaves.
"We'll go to court. Let the judge decide," Catsimatidis stated, maintaining they did nothing wrong and that Giuliani's own actions forced the outcome.
This legal clash adds to Giuliani's ongoing financial and legal pressures, including massive defamation judgments from election-related cases and bankruptcy proceedings. The two men were once close allies in conservative circles, but the rift highlights tensions over free speech, station liability, and personal loyalty in the post-2020 election landscape.