Rudy Giuliani could be disbarred after Capitol riot

Democratic lawmakers sent letters calling for investigations into Mr Giuliani’s standing with the organisation

The New York State Bar Association is considering removing Donald Trump's attorney, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, from its membership.  

The credentialing organisation issued a statement accusing Mr Giuliani of playing a part in inciting the crowd that attacked the US Capitol last week.  

The organisation said it had received "hundreds" of complaints about Mr Giuliani in recent months, mostly based on his involvement in Mr Trump's ill-fated campaign to overturn the results of the 2020 election.  

The statement said Mr Giuliani would have the chance to defend himself to the organisation. Should he be removed, he will not longer be allowed to practice law in the state of New York.

Mr Giuliani said that the Trump supporters who attacked the Capitol - an attack that left six people dead - were on the "right side of history."  

Earlier in the day, he appeared to encourage the idea of solving political differences with violence.  

"If we're wrong, we will be made fools of, but if we're right, a lot of them will go to jail," Mr Giuliani said to the crowd, speaking about the president's challenge to the 2020 election results. "Let's have trial by combat."  

Mr Giuliani made the statement shortly before the crowd of Trump supporters swarmed the Capitol.

"Based on these complaints, and the statement Mr Guiliani uttered shortly before the attack on the Capitol, NYSBA President Scott M Karson has launched an inquiry pursuant to the Association's bylaws to determine whether Mr Giuliani should be removed from the membership rolls of the Association," the statement said.  

The statement comes in the wake of two Democratic lawmakers calling on the organisation to remove Mr Giuliani from its rolls.  

"We will hold responsible everyone involved with the attempted coup, including the attorney to @POUTS, Rudy Giuliani," Rep. Ted Lieu wrote on Twitter.  

His post included a link to a letter to the New York State Bar from himself and Rep. Mondaire Jones asking it to investigate Mr Giuliani and disbar him.  

"As Members of Congress and attorneys - one of us a former prosecutor, the other a Department of Justice alumnus - we have long been appalled by the statements and actions of the President's attorney, Rudy Giuliani," the letter said. "It is inconceivable to us that Mr Giuliani remains in good standing with the New York State Bar Association after engaging in activities that would see any other lawyer summarily thrown out of the profession."

The lawmakers alleged Mr Giuliani violated the organisation's professional code.  

"According to the New York Lawyer's Code of Professional Responsibility, 'A lawyer should maintain high standards of professional conduct,'" the letter said. "One of your lawyers stood on a stage on Wednesday, January 6th, and told an agitated, armed crowd - a crowd whose members had previously declared their intentions to storm the Capitol, including some who wanted to execute or kidnap Members of Congress - that they should prepare to engage in 'trial by combat' in reference to their misguided and illegal efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election."