Rudy Giuliani’s Upcoming Court Showdown: A Pivotal Moment in the Defamation Case
A $148 Million Judgment Presses Giuliani’s Assets
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is scheduled to appear in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, facing U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman over his failure to comply with a court order. Giuliani was directed to surrender his assets following a $148 million defamation judgment awarded to two former Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss. The judgment stems from Giuliani’s public statements during the 2020 presidential campaign, in which he accused the two women of election fraud.
Cleared-Out Apartment Raises Questions
The court appearance follows a surprising discovery by Freeman and Moss’s legal team. When they visited Giuliani’s Upper East Side apartment last week, they found it nearly empty, with many personal items removed. Despite an Oct. 29 deadline to turn over specific assets, the apartment had been cleared out weeks before, with some items reportedly placed in storage on Long Island.
Among the items in question are several valuable possessions, including Giuliani’s $5 million apartment, a vintage 1980 Mercedes once owned by actress Lauren Bacall, a signed shirt by Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio, and numerous luxury watches.
Judge Liman Enforces In-Person Appearance
Originally planned as a phone conference, Judge Liman converted the hearing to an in-person court appearance upon learning about the state of Giuliani’s residence. Aaron Nathan, the attorney representing Freeman and Moss, stated in a letter that the apartment was “substantially empty” when visited. This prompted Judge Liman to require Giuliani to attend the hearing in person, rejecting his legal team’s attempts to reschedule or conduct the hearing by phone.
Giuliani’s Defense: Claims of Intimidation Tactics
Ted Goodman, a spokesperson for Giuliani, has described the legal actions as a form of intimidation, stating, “Opposing counsel…are simply attempting to further bully and intimidate Mayor Giuliani until he is rendered penniless and homeless.” Giuliani’s team argues he should not be compelled to surrender his possessions while he appeals the judgment, a stance the court has thus far dismissed.
Defamation Claims and Lasting Impact on Election Workers
The defamation ruling, which found Giuliani liable for falsely accusing Freeman and Moss of ballot manipulation, has had profound consequences for the two women. After Giuliani’s unsubstantiated allegations, they reportedly faced death threats and severe public scrutiny. The accusations included claims of ballot-stuffing, repeated ballot counts, and tampering with voting machines—allegations that have been widely debunked. Nonetheless, they caused significant trauma and reputational damage for Freeman and Moss.
The outcome of Giuliani’s Thursday appearance will likely have far-reaching effects, determining the future of his assets and the financial implications of the defamation case.