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Rudy Giuliani Faces $10 Million Sexual Harassment Lawsuit From Former Employee

by Carmella D'Acquisto

Some inky sweat may be running down the face of former New York City Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, this afternoon. Yesterday, Noelle Dunphy, a former employee of Giuliani who had worked with him from January 2019 through 2021, filed a lawsuit that outlines some disturbing abuses of power including wage theft and making constant sexual demands that were “an absolute requirement of her employment and his legal representation.” 

Dunphy and her legal team cataloged the scathing details that accuse Giuliani of being constantly drunk, taking Viagra regularly, demanding sex at any time, grooming and pursuing other women employees and more. After Dunphy was hired in 2019, Giuliani is said to have immediately isolated her in the back of the company car, kissing her and asking her if he could enter his home. After she declined, he asked for “flirtatious photos,” the first of what will be dozens of instances of harassment and assault, according to the lawsuit.

Dunphy goes on to outline several aggravated allegations of assault including forced oral sex, insisting on working from his apartment so he could “easily transition from work, to demanding sexual gratification, and back to work.” The legal document describes that Dunphy had to work knowing that Giuliani may initiate sexual contact at any moment, including demanding oral sex while on the phone with then-President Trump, forcing her to acquiesce and taking Viagra to prepare.

All of this was happening as Giuliani withheld Dunphy’s wages, according to the 70-page lawsuit. Giuliani allegedly told Dunphy to expect a $1 million salary, which he then avoided paying because he was going through a messy divorce and was afraid that his ex would “retaliate” against any female employee he had hired. The complaint says, “Giuliani promised Ms. Dunphy that his divorce would be resolved “any day now,” and therefore the deferral of her pay and the need to keep her employment secret would soon end.” 

This lawsuit takes place not even a week after a jury found that former President Donald Trump sexually abused E. Jean Carroll, and she was awarded $5 million for battery and defamation. Could the tides be turning for “good ol’ boys”? Could the formerly untouchable now have to come to terms with their crimes and pay the price? There’s not a lot of good things happening in this country, but this is a promising trajectory. 

Spokespersons for Giuliani said to The Independent, “Mayor Rudy Giuliani unequivocally denies the allegations raised by Ms Dunphy. Mayor Giuliani’s lifetime of public service speaks for itself and he will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims.”

Not only is Giuliani being accused of large swaths of sexual assaults, Dunphy also describes the generally hostile and bigoted work environment she became accustomed to. “Ms. Dunphy was subjected to a severe and pervasive discriminatory work environment where she was not only abused based on her gender, but was also forced to endure offensive racial, antisemitic, and misogynistic slurs directed towards women, including herself and other women,” the complaint details.

Phew! That’s not even half of it. Read through the official complaint to learn more about the allegations against Giuliani. Like E. Jean Carroll and so many others, we thank Noelle Dunphy for bravely coming forward and sharing her truth with the world. We wish her swift justice.

Top photo: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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