Giuliani Ordered to Surrender Personal Belongings Amid Defamation Case Fallout
In a high-stakes legal standoff, representatives from a moving company and lawyers for two former Georgia election workers prepared to access Rudy Giuliani’s Manhattan apartment on Thursday. The former New York City mayor is expected to turn over several prized possessions after failing to comply with a court-ordered deadline. This legal action stems from a $148 million defamation judgment won by election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, who accused Giuliani of spreading false claims that incited threats and harassment against them.
Court-Ordered Property Handover Delayed
The dispute took a contentious turn this week, with accusations exchanged between the parties as Tuesday’s deadline for Giuliani to relinquish the ordered assets passed without resolution. Last week, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman mandated that Giuliani surrender various personal items, including his $5 million Upper East Side apartment, a 1980 Mercedes once owned by Lauren Bacall, and several personal belongings, such as a Joe DiMaggio-signed shirt and a collection of luxury watches.
Despite the order, Giuliani’s lawyer, Kenneth Caruso, claimed in a Tuesday court filing that his client was ready to comply but had not received proper instructions from Freeman and Moss’s legal team. However, Aaron Nathan, representing Freeman and Moss, filed a statement on Wednesday indicating Giuliani’s team could not provide basic details about the assets’ whereabouts.
Giuliani Denounces Ruling, Calls for Appeal
While voting in West Palm Beach, Florida, Giuliani refrained from confirming whether any representatives had accessed his New York apartment. He expressed skepticism about the fairness of the defamation judgment but voiced hope for a reversal on appeal. “It will probably be one of the most unfair trials in American history, except the J6 people,” Giuliani said, referencing cases against January 6th Capitol rioters.
The defamation case stems from Giuliani’s promotion of baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, where he accused Freeman and Moss of manipulating ballots. A separate judge had previously found Giuliani liable for defamation due to his failure to provide requested information, leading a jury to award $148 million in damages to Freeman and Moss.
Court Sets New Deadline Amid Giuliani’s Legal Fund Appeal
Judge Liman has set a new deadline, ordering both sides to submit a status report on asset exchanges by Monday. If assets remain unsurrendered, a November 7 conference is scheduled. Giuliani, meanwhile, has appealed for public donations to his legal defense fund, framing the judgment as an attack by “Deep State plans to ruin me utterly,” a term often used to describe a perceived secret network of government officials working against certain political interests. His legal team continues to argue that his assets should not be seized while his appeal is pending.
Battle Over Additional Assets and Residences
In addition to the Manhattan property, the court has called for Giuliani’s $3 million Palm Beach condo and his collection of Yankees World Series rings. However, Giuliani contends that his Florida residence should be exempt, claiming it as his primary residence.
As Giuliani’s spokesperson, Ted Goodman, accused “partisan, political activists” of unfairly targeting the former mayor, the legal wrangling continues, underscoring the high stakes for public figures caught in the aftermath of spreading unproven allegations and the repercussions that follow when those allegations incite real-world harm.