The Point: 5 key things to remember about Giuliani and Ukraine

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April 28, 2021 | by Chris Cillizza, Lauren Dezenski and Sonnet Swire

5 key things to remember about Giuliani and Ukraine

On Wednesday, federal agents executed a search warrant at the Manhattan home of Rudy Giuliani in connection with a long-running criminal investigation into his involvement with Ukraine in the latter years of Donald Trump's presidency.

Unless you have been on another planet or hiding under some coats for the last 24 hours, you almost certainly heard about it.

But there's plenty of context about Giuliani and Ukraine that you might have forgotten over these last few years. Which is why I am here to remind you!

1. In a September 2019 interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo, Giuliani first denied that he had asked the Ukrainians to investigate Joe Biden before admitting he actually had moments later. (You have to see it to believe it.)

2. In October 2019, two men connected to Giuliani's efforts to dig up dirt on Biden -- Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman -- were arrested before a flight to Frankfurt, Germany. The charges involved alleged attempts by the two men to funnel foreign contributions into US elections.

3. In December 2019, Giuliani told the New Yorker's Adam Entous that he needed to get US Ambassador to the Ukraine Maria Yovanovitch "out of the way" because "she was going to make the investigations difficult for everybody."

4. In February 2020, then-President Trump acknowledged that he had sent Giuliani to Ukraine to dig up dirt on his political opponents. (Trump had denied doing so during the impeachment process.)

5. In July 2020, a top aide to then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the outreach by Giuliani to Pompeo to get Yovanovitch removed was "deeply disturbing."

Now, it's also worth remembering that Giuliani has yet to be charged with any crimes -- and has denied any wrongdoing. Giuliani's lawyer called the search warrant "legal thuggery" on Wednesday.

But let's be honest here: None of this looks good for Giuliani. The bar for securing a search warrant against such a high-profile figure is very high -- and that was met here. And this level of activity suggests that the investigation may well be moving into a new and more active stage.

The Point: Giuliani will sleep less well tonight than he did last night. Or at least, I would if I were him.

-- Chris

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"For the first time in American history, behind the President when he speaks will be two women:
a woman vice president and woman speaker of the House. "

-- White House chief of staff Ron Klain on the historic visual of VP Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi seated behind Biden. Biden's presidency is the first time that women are first and second in the presidential line of succession.

REHEARSALS AT THE WHITE HOUSE

Ahead of his address to Congress, President Biden has been in major prep mode.

That includes a fully staged run-through at the White House, CNN's Kevin Liptak and Kaitlan Collins report. Previous presidents have set up a podium and teleprompter in the White House Map Room to get as accurate a feel for the speech as possible.

But it's different for Biden. Unlike any of his most recent predecessors, Biden will know what the view from the microphone looks like.

After all, he spent eight years looking out at the House chamber -- and the back of President Barack Obama's head -- during State of the Union speeches. For three and a half decades before that, Biden was among the crowd of lawmakers watching from the floor.

Tune in to Biden's address tonight beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern on CNN and CNN.com.

WEDNESDAY'S MUST-SEE TWEETS

1. 676 deaths is still way too many. But the trend line is encouraging.

2. "Here we go, folks!!!"

3. The many faces of Joe Biden.

4. This meme will never get old.

5. Oh, I am going to read the crap out of this book.

6. "The Far Side" is the best cartoon. Ever.

CHRIS' GOOD READS

This CNN piece helped me bone up on what President Biden has done (and what he hasn't) in his first 100 days. And this one by Gabby Orr made me smarter about the guy Biden replaced in the White House.

In advance of his big speech tonight, you should read this 2018 Politico profile of South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. And this one, from The Washington Post, in 2020.

I am a GIANT crossword puzzle nerd. So I loved this New York Times story of a woman who helped finish her late father's puzzles. And congratulate "Dr. Fill" on "his" win in the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.

Finally: Happy "Ed Balls" Day!!!!

MUSICAL INTERLUDE

To celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the founding of Dualtone Records, some of the artists on the label are covering each other's songs. The Lumineers do "Caves" by Gregory Alan Isakov and Isakov does "The Salt and the Sea" by the Lumineers.

Today's episode: Here comes the California recall.

DESIGNATED SURVIVOR?

A designated survivor will not be chosen for President Biden's joint address to Congress, and most Cabinet members won't even attend the speech in person amid the pandemic, according to administration officials.

Historically, one high-ranking official is designated to stay in an undisclosed location as the President delivers his annual address to lawmakers in case an event at the Capitol incapacitates the President and Cabinet officials in attendance -- hence the term "designated survivor."

But this year, because of the pandemic, Biden's speech will be limited to 200 lawmakers, administration officials and staff, with most "guests" actually viewing from home.

-- Sonnet

ONE BIG CASE

400

The Justice Department has charged at least 400 people in connection with the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, according to CNN's latest review of court documents.

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