The recordings and photos were obtained because of a House subpoena of Giuliani associate Lev Parnas, who was recently arrested — along with fellow Giuliani associate Igor Fruman — on campaign finance charges. Federal prosecutors allege that Parnas and Fruman illegally funneled foreign donations to political candidates in the United States, and both of them have pled “not guilty.”
ABC News reported that it remains unknown what specifically is said in the recordings that include Giuliani and Trump. Although Parnas’ attorney, Joseph A. Bondy, would not comment on them, he referred ABC News to an official statement — which said, “Mr. Parnas has vociferously and publicly asserted his wish to comply with his previously issued subpoena and to provide the House Intelligence Committee with truthful and important information that is in furtherance of justice, not to obstruct it.”