Rudy Giuliani struggled to answer basic questions at his attorney misconduct hearing

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, appeared Monday as the first witness in his own attorney misconduct hearing, but the proceedings quickly grew combative as the opposing counsel accused Giuliani of failing to answer straightforward questions.

The ethics case was brought by the Washington, DC Bar's Office of Disciplinary Counsel and focused on Giuliani's attempt to overturn the election results in Pennsylvania. Despite the fact that there was no factual or legal basis for Giuliani's claims of widespread voter fraud, the ODC alleges that the former New York mayor filed a frivolous lawsuit.

The ODC said that Giuliani engaged in conduct that prejudiced the administration of justice when he filed the lawsuit.

Hamilton Fox said in his opening arguments that Giuliani used his law license to undermine the constitution.

Fox said that Mr. Giuliani was responsible for asking a court to deny millions of people the right to vote.

As the proceedings continued, Fox became more frustrated with Giuliani. At one point, he was trying to get more information from Giuliani about his role in litigating the Pennsylvania case, but the former mayor began airing nonsense about voter fraud in other states.

Fox wants to know what Giuliani's role was in the initial complaint in Pennsylvania. You're telling me how to make a watch.

"I think you should allow me to answer the question so I can get the context in which I was operating," Giuliani said. When that was not the case, you don't make the false impression that all my attention was given to one thing.

Giuliani was reminded that he was there to answer questions as a witness when he began opining on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling.

Giuliani said that he remembers the ruling very well. It's a very debatable opinion.

Fox pointed out that election observers can stay in the room where the votes are being counted.

You would agree that my position is reasonable since it was the same position as the others. It was not.

Fox asked Mr. Giuliani the questions.

The hearings were chaired by Robert Bernius, a retired lawyer.

Mr. Giuliani, this is not the time to argue your claims. Answer the questions. I would like to thank you.

Bernius interrupted Giuliani's rant to remind him that he was a witness.

The former mayor claimed that his actions were taken out of context and that he had been imprisoned for three or more years.

Bernius said that you have been a trial lawyer for a long time. The process is regularly changed.