Joe Giudice’s Lawyer Says Return to Italy Won’t Hurt Deportation Appeal: ‘Doesn’t Make His Case Worse’

Clearing the air. Joe Giudice’s attorney, James. J Leonard, set the record straight about the reality star’s deportation appeal during a new interview on Tuesday, October 22. While chatting with SiriusXM, James said the Real Housewives of New Jersey alum’s return to Italy this month won’t hurt his chances of being allowed back into the United States.

As we previously reported, the 47-year-old was recently sent back to his native country of Italy on October 11 as he waits to find out the result of his deportation case appeal. When asked about the impact of Joe’s return to Italy, James claimed there would be no negative consequences. “It’s completely mutually exclusive of one another,” he explained.

“It’s no different than if he was out on bail … if they had granted him bail when he was seeking it. That wouldn’t have made his case any better.”

“And him agreeing to go in the interim does not make his case any worse,” James added. “The legal issues are the legal issues, whatever they decide to do. It’s going to be a legal analysis. It’s not going to be anything other than that.”

James confirmed that Joe’s brother and mother both still live in New Jersey, but they did recently visit him, and Joe’s sister is currently on her way. “He comes from a very loving and supportive family. They absolutely adore him,” the attorney added.

“There’s a lot of love in the Giudice family and Teresa and the girls will be there in less than a month. He’s certainly seeing everybody that he needs to see, but I want to be very, very clear everybody’s goal is that he come back to the United States and that’s what we’re working on.”

It’s been a long road for the Bravo star, but he’s doing his best to stay positive. Prior to his seven month stint in ICE custody, Joe was released from federal prison in March after serving a 41-month sentence for mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud.

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On October 21, the RHONJ alum shared an update with fans, marking the first time he’s spoken out since being deported to Italy. “You just gotta look forward,” he said in a video message posted on Bravo’s The Daily Dish. “And never look back.”

“Life, it’s always better to through the windshield and not through the rearview mirror, you know?” Joe added. “It’s a much bigger picture when you’re looking through the windshield. But, at the end of the day, people make mistakes. Nobody’s perfect.”

“I’ve learned a valuable lesson from all this,” the reality star confessed. “I know my family is the most important thing to me. But it’s better that I’m out here than in there.”