The following contains spoilers for the film Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm which premiers on Amazon Prime this Friday.
Former New York City Rudy Giuliani has has been caught on camera with his hand down the front of his pants while alone in a hotel room with an underage girl.
The footage comes at the end of Sacha Baron Cohen’s upcoming film Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm, a sequel to his hit comedy 2006 comedy Borat. Like the first film, this film sees Baron Cohen in character as a clueless Eastern European journalist Borat Sagdiyev traveling the United States, in the process interviewing real Americans in ways that, to quote our own review of the film, reveal “some rather ugly truths about ourselves that we’d rather not admit.”
In the new film, Baron Cohen’s Borat returns to the United States at the behest of the Kazakstania government to present a bribe to Donald Trump. He is accompanied by his daughter Sandra Jessica Parker Sagdiyev, played by actress Maria Bakalova.
The footage comes at the end of the film, with Giuliani participating in an interview with Borat’s daughter before the two adjourn to a hotel room that had been equipped with hidden cameras. Once there, “Sandra” slowly takes off the microphone and transmitter pack that Giuliani had been outfitted with for the interview. At one point Giuliani can can be seen patting the actress’ backside. Giuliani then is shown lying back across the hotel room’s bed and sliding his hand into the front of his pants and leaving it there. It is at this time that Baron Cohen, as Borat, interrupts by bursting into the room shouting, “She’s 15! She’s too old for you!”
Although actress Bakalova is 24-years-old, she is presented in the film as a teenager. Giuliani being unaware of the actress’s real age may be enough to prove intent to commit an illegal sexual act with a minor. Even if he were aware of Bakalova’s true age, exposing or touching himself with her consent could also open Giuliani up to potential charges.
In an interview with WABC Radio earlier this afternoon after the story broke in which he gave his interpretation of events –
I had to take off the electronic equipment. And when the electronic equipment came off, some of it was in the back and my shirt came a little out, although my clothes were entirely on. I leaned back, and I tucked my shirt in, and at that point, at that point, they have this picture they take which looks doctored, but in any event, I’m tucking my shirt in. I assure you that’s all I was doing.
Honestly, even setting my own political leanings aside, I am not so sure I believe Giuliani’s explanation if only because I see lying back on a bed to tuck one’s shirt into their pants as far less easier than just standing up to do so.
Normally we would refrain from stories that spoil films that have not been released yet. But in this case, it is apparent that a crime may have been committed. In addition to the fact that Giuliani works as the personal attorney for President Donald Trump, he has been at the center of a largely discredited story about a laptop allegedly owned by the son of Trump’s current opponent in the presidential election, former Vice-President Joe Biden.
