Rudy Giuliani’s new role advising President-elect Donald Trump on cyber security could provide a financial windfall for the former New York City mayor’s consulting firm and legal practice, creating a potential conflict of interest that won’t be subject to federal ethics laws.

Giuliani chairs the global cybersecurity practice at the law firm Greenberg Traurig, advising companies on securing data and responding to breaches. Through his own consulting firm, Giuliani Partners, the former New York mayor has worked for cyber-related clients including identity theft protection company LifeLock and insurance giant Aon.


Giuliani said he will not resign from those roles, even as he becomes a special adviser to the president-elect on these issues. His task, as he described it Thursday, will be to travel the world to find leading experts and introduce them and their ideas to Trump — setting up a clear path for Giuliani to promote his own clients or for companies to hire Giuliani to gain access to Trump.

In an interview with POLITICO, the former New York City mayor downplayed any concerns about conflicts of interest and said he was drawn to the role because the federal government was far behind the private sector companies like Uber on security.

“I don't know if we can find a cure, but it’s like cancer: We need the private sector to help. We need the best and the brightest,” he said. “I'm very passionate about this work. My firm does a great deal of cybersecurity. I travel all over the world for cybersecurity.”

Giuliani denied he would be selling access to Trump and said he was unsure how much time he would spend working for Trump, but that he would “stay in the private sector.”

He said it is unnecessary to have policies to separate his private interests and his government advice because he wouldn’t be lobbying and would never take something to the president-elect on behalf of a client. “I don’t see any way in which this is a conflict,” he said.

“People hire me for all different reasons,” he said in the interview. “I would never use my access — I'm not a lobbyist. I'm not going to do any lobbying. I just do solutions.”

Trump’s transition team announced on Thursday morning that Giuliani would be “sharing his expertise and insight as a trusted friend” about the cybersecurity solutions that are being developed in the private sector. The cyber advisory group comes after Trump pledged to get tough on cyber intrusions after massive hacks on Democratic targets during the presidential election.

Because Giuliani is a volunteer, not a government employee, he won’t come under the remit of federal ethics rules that require officials to separate themselves from potential conflicts of interest.

Giuliani in the interview acknowledged he might have business ties with some of the people he connects to Trump, and that he might be discussing government and private issues with some people.

But he considers that a synergy, not a conflict.

“Probably 95 percent I'll have no connection with — if I happen to have a business connection with them, obviously I'd make them available also if they're business leaders,” he said. “We do cybersecurity for many people. We are doing very well, and this gives me a chance to get a lot of new players into the game and put them before the government so they can help the government.”

Giuliani’s firm advises some foreign governments on physical security, like retraining police forces, but offers cyber services too, he said.

“If they want cybersecurity solutions, we can give it to them,” he said of foreign companies or firms.

The arrangement resembles that of activist investor Carl Icahn, who will advise Trump on deregulation, which could directly affect stocks he owns. But since he won’t be a government employee, Icahn will bypass the usual ethical disclosures, divestitures and other safeguards.

In 2013, Giuliani provided strategic advice to LifeLock and appeared in TV commercials for the company, which the Federal Trade Commission previously fined for overpromising its services.

Giuliani partnered with Aon in 2002, helping major companies avoid and address crises. Cybersecurity has increasingly become a focus for Aon.

Also in 2002, Giuliani Partners advised wireless company Nextel on securing communications for first responders, the firm said on its website.

Another client was DataWorld Solutions, a manufacturer of cables used for secure communications later known as Defense Technology Systems.

