In court on Tuesday, a furious Rudy Giuliani yelled at the judge overseeing the collection process for the $146 million defamation judgment against him, claiming he was struggling to make ends meet.
Giuliani said, “The implications you are making against me are wrong,” in response to U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman’s statement that Donald Trump’s former personal attorney had not been following court orders to turn over his assets. All of my possessions are tied up, including my automobile, credit card, and cash. I am unable to pay my invoices because they have placed stop orders on my company accounts.
The judge cautioned Giuliani from having any more outbursts and stated that he did not seem to be impoverished.
Attorneys representing former Georgia election workers Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman, whom Giuliani defamed while contesting the state’s 2020 election results, made some of the claims that prompted the hearing in federal court in New York. Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor, has allegedly disregarded court orders to transfer his assets to Freeman and Moss, according to the attorneys for both parties.
According to Joseph Cammarata, Giuliani’s new lawyer, the former mayor of New York City had given up a 1980 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 that had once belonged to Lauren Bacall, a legendary figure in Hollywood. Giuliani had turned in the vehicle, but not the title, according to Aaron Nathan, a lawyer for Freeman and Moss.
The judge ordered that the title be given up. Liman questioned why Giuliani hadn’t been able to obtain a new car, saying that a car without a title is useless.
“Your client is a capable individual. He served as the district’s U.S. attorney. Before Giuliani interrupted and began his tirade, the judge informed Cammarata, “The idea that he can’t seek for a title certificate…
“I did apply for it!” Giuliani shook his head and barked. “Am I meant to make it up myself or what? Before lamenting his financial difficulties, he said, “Your implication that I have not been diligent about it is totally incorrect.”
Giuliani’s co-op apartment in Manhattan has a similar paperwork problem, according to the election workers’ attorneys. According to a court document, Giuliani has not to give the keys, stock, or proprietary lease, despite the receivers having access to the residence, which is valued at over $5 million.
He was ordered to turn over much of his expensive watch collection last month, but not all of it, according to the petition.
According to the filing, Mr. Giuliani has handed 18 watches and one diamond ring to the address the receivers gave, but he still has nine more watches that he is expected to turn over.
Nathan stated in court that while Giuliani has disregarded court orders by refusing to turn over money from his bank account and sports memorabilia, including a signed Joe DiMaggio jersey, his clients want to proceed and get what is rightfully theirs, but they have had to put up with one delay after another with numerous extensions.
Given that he had recently joined the case after Giuliani’s prior lawyer resigned for unclear reasons, Cammarata stated that he is contesting the judge’s turnover order and requested that the judge extend certain dates.
Liman turned down the request. By firing one lawyer and hiring another, you can’t start again. The judge warned that Giuliani would be subject to penalties and possibly even jail time if he disobeys his orders, pointing out that he has already missed numerous deadlines and been granted numerous extensions.
Two unresolved issues surrounding the ruling are set for trial on January 16: whether Giuliani is required to give up his Florida property and his four World Series rings, which his son Andrew claims were presents from years ago. In a bankruptcy filing last year, Giuliani claimed the rings as his property.
In order to allow Giuliani to attend ceremonies surrounding Trump’s inauguration, Cammarata requested that the judge postpone the trial. Giuliani, he said, regularly consults with Trump and “has the political right to be there.”
The judge refused the request, saying Giuliani’s “social calendar” wasn’t a reason to delay.
After court, Giuliani suggested the trial is unnecessary because Liman is “going to rule against me. If you were sitting in the courtroom and couldn’t figure it out, you’re stupid.”
“His background is serious left-wing Democrat,” he said, while acknowledging that Trump had nominated the judge to the bench. Still, Giuliani maintained, the judge is “about as left-wing as you get.”
Freeman and Moss filed suit against Giuliani after he repeatedly falsely accused them of committing election fraud during the 2020 election, claims that led to atorrent of racist death threatsthat forced them out of their jobs. State officials at the time said the pair had done nothing wrong. Giuliani continued accusing the mother and daughter of fraud even after a lengthy stateinvestigation cleared them.
Last year, a jury awarded them$148 million in damages, which Liman reduced to $146 million.
Asked if he regretted defaming Freeman and Moss, Giuliani said: “I do not regret it for a minute. I regret the persecution I have been put through.”
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