Rudy Giuliani told Justice Department agents it was fine to throw a fake while campaigning, according to a newly released transcript of a 2018 interview probing a suspected FBI leak of sensitive information to the former New York mayor.

Giuliani denied in the interview being leaked details by FBI agents of an investigation into then-Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election despite appearing to tease as such during appearances on Fox News at the time.

Instead, Giuliani claimed the big surprise hed alluded to on the conservative network was a direct-to-camera speech from then-Republican candidate Donald Trump. Giuliani told the agents that in 2016, hed been best friend and companion and senior advisor to the campaign, albeit in an unpaid role.

The transcript was obtained by the watchdog group Project on Government Oversight and published by The Washington Post on Wednesday.

In the interview , Giulianis then-law partner and counselor Marc Mukasey said that in the heat of a political campaign, on television, Im not saying Rudy necessarily, but everybody embellishes everything.

Oh, you could throw a fake, said Giuliani, who would later become Trumps personal attorney and chief promoter of his 2020 election lies.

Youre under no obligation to tell the truth, Mukasey added.

You could throw a fake, reiterated Giuliani.

Giuliani, reportedly out of money and getting no financial support from Trump, has been suspended from practicing law in New York and Washington, D.C. Hes under federal investigation , faces a $1.3 billion lawsuit and is now selling personalized videos on the Cameo website.

Fake news, right? asked one of the agents.

Right, replied Mukasey.