Rudy’s Legal Gymnastics: A Twist on the Truth
THE ISSUE: Rudy Giuliani’s comment that “truth isn’t truth” during an interview with NBC’s Chuck Todd.
I respected Rudy Giuliani from the time he was a federal prosecutor in New York (“Honestly, Rudy?” Aug. 20).
I thought he was a great mayor and served with distinction in making the city a better place in which to live and work.
All I can say now is that he is acting — and will be remembered — as a total buffoon. His legacy will be tarnished forever because he won’t be remembered for all the good things he did. Instead, he will be forever associated with our current president. Henry Beyer Woodmere
It is puzzling to me that people are likening Rudy Giuliani’s ironic statement that “truth isn’t truth” to George Orwell’s Newspeak, when it’s perfectly clear what he meant.
He even explained that when you have two respondents declare something in exact opposition, discerning which is truth is difficult.
In a courtroom, if there’s a contradiction between testimonies, the truth is frustratingly obscured.
I don’t think there’s a person alive who understands that “truth is truth” better than Giuliani. Mallory Millett Manhattan
Giuliani was once “America’s mayor.” Today, he has become “America’s clown.” Myron Rushetzky Woodside
Now that Giuliani has declared “truth isn’t truth,” all US courtrooms should immediately eliminate references to the outmoded concept of “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
Instead, they should consider having people swear that they are free to “prevaricate at will.” Richard Siegelman Plainview
Truth is immutable; perception of it is not. Giuliani is correct in saying that truth is not truth. John Lucas Buttonwillow, Calif.
Giuliani also said, “It’s somebody’s version of the truth, not the truth.”
“Somebody’s version of the truth” implies that a statement can be what that person believes to be the truth — but isn’t. Linda Kohn Manalapan, NJ
In context, Rudy’s statement makes sense. He was explaining why defense lawyers hesitate to permit their clients to be interviewed by prosecutors. John Doyle Water Mill