EXCLUSIVE: Rudy Giuliani, 78, steps out in New York with his rumored girlfriend after being told he is target of Georgia CRIMINAL probe into efforts to overturn the election 

• Rudy Giuliani has now been told he is the target of a criminal probe in Georgia, The New York Times reported Wednesday 
• Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and Trump election lawyer, is slated to testify in Atlanta later this week 
• He has emerged as the central figure in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election 

Rudy Giuliani has now been told he is the target of a criminal probe in Georgia surrounding his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election on behalf of former President Donald Trump. 

The New York Times first reported the development Monday, citing lawyers for Giuliani.

The 78-year-old ex-New York City mayor has emerged as the central Trumpworld figure in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the Peach State. 

After the news broke, the former mayor was spotted in New York Monday with his long-rumored 'girlfriend' Maria Ryan, exclusive DailyMail.com pictures revealed. Ryan, who's in her 50s, had been named as Giuliani's mistress in 2018 divorce documents when he was splitting from third wife Judith Nathan.

Giuliani, who served as an election lawyer for Trump, is scheduled to testify in Atlanta Wednesday. 

The ex-mayor's lawyer, Robert Costello, said Giuliani would probably invoke attorney-client privilege if asked questions about Trump.

'If these people think he's going to talk about conversations between him and President Trump, they're delusional,' Costello said Monday, according to The Times.  

Giuliani had told prosecutors that he's not healthy enough to fly, prompting Fulton County Judge Robert McBurney to say he should figure out other means to travel. 

'Mr. Giuliani is not cleared for air travel, A-I-R,' McBurney said. 

'One thing we need to explore is whether Mr. Giuliani can get here without jeopardizing his recovery and his health, on a train, on a bus, or Uber,' McBurney said in court last week. 'New York is not close to Atlanta, but it's not traveling from Fairbanks,' the judge added. 

Costello gave a 'no comment' when asked how Giuliani would get to Atlanta. 

Prosecutors had pointed out that Giuliani traveled to New Hampshire and had purchased airline tickets to Europe. 

Giuliani had two heart stents implanted in July 

Fulton County is the area that surrounds Atlanta, which provides the state with most of its Democratic votes. 

The Times reported in June that investigators have been focusing on two state legislative hearings Giuliani made appearances at in December 2020, after President Joe Biden narrowly beat Trump in the formerly red state. 

There he peddled conspiracy theories about rogue voting machines and suitcases stuffed with Democratic ballots, telling lawmakers they couldn't 'possibly certify Georgia in good faith.' 

Those statements were referenced when a New York State appellate court suspended Giuliani's law license last year.  

Giuliani was also involved in the scheme to have state lawmakers create fake slates of Electoral College electors, which is part of the Georgia probe, but also being investigated by the Department of Justice. 

The electors scheme set up the conflict between Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence, with the now ex-president and some of his allies arguing that Pence - while presiding over the January 6 session of Congress to count Electoral College votes - could choose those slates of electors over the real ones, thus overturning Biden's win.

The Times reported in June that three state Democratic lawmakers testified before a grand jury on Giuliani's December 2020 appearances before the legislative hearings. 

Republicans, so far, are resisting testifying. 

Charges being considered, the Times said, are racketeering and conspiracy, as well as those related to making false statements 'in matters within jurisdiction of state or political subdivisions,' which would include legislative hearings. 

The special grand jury was assembled in May and has one year to complete its work. 

Willis said in May that 'in a perfect world, I'd be done in the next 60 to 90 days.'

'But I live in an imperfect world,' she added. 

McBurney encouraged prosecutors last week to tell Giuliani's lawyers if he's the target of a criminal probe. 

'Don't leave them hanging on that front,' he said, according to the Associated Press.  

Last month, the 16 Republican state lawmakers who signed on to be fake electors were informed that they are targets in the investigation. 

Earlier Monday, Sen. Lindsey Graham was informed that he must also testify before the grand jury in the Fulton County probe. 

Prosecutors want Graham to testify about phone calls he made to Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his staff in the weeks following Trump's election loss.