Rudy Giuliani denies alcohol problem: ‘I don’t think I’ve ever done an interview drunk, I drink normally’

Rudy Giuliani’s fall from grace is far from a secret – the former politician’s public image even has its own Wikipedia page. But no one knows better than the man formerly know as “America’s Mayor,” who, after having his law license revoked, is being investigated by the FBI as the U.S. prepares for the 20 year anniversary of the attacks that earned him political notoriety in the first place.

In a one-on-one interview with NBC News, during which Giuliani made sure to take photos with every single fan — “enjoying the praise,” as NBC’s Melissa Russo noted — the former mayor asserted that he’s not the one who has “gone off the rails.” “I haven’t changed at all,” he insisted. “I’m aware of that [perception] — what’s happened is our ‘country’s gone off the rails.”

“I don’t care,” he continued, in reference to his reputation having “tanked” in recent years. “They can torture me all they want, they can put me in prison,” he said. When asked if he believed he might actually go to prison, in light of being investigated for his dealings in Ukraine while working for former President Donald Trump, Giuliani insists he’s innocent. “If they charge me they have to make it up.”

“If they were nicer, I would help them,” he added, regarding the authorities investigating his case. “But they’re not nice. They’ve been investigating for two and a half years, and I’ve been offering to go there and explain anything they wanted.”

Petro then asked Giuliani if he has “ever struggled with alcohol,” as there have been a slew of reports claiming he has. “Never at all. Never at all,” he said, to which Petro replied, “Were you drunk during those interviews when they said you were?”

“Absolutely not! I don’t think I’ve ever done an interview drunk. I have sometimes — uh — I mean I drink normally,” he continued, becoming increasingly flustered. “I like scotch, I drink scotch.”

“So you do not believe you have a drinking problem?” Petro asked again, prompting a particularly bizarre response.

“I know — I don’t even believe it — I know I’m not,” he said, starting to stumble over his words. “I mean, I, I, I no, I’m not an alcoholic. I’m a functioning…I’m probably…I probably function more effectively than 90 percent of the population.”

Watch the interview in its entirety here.