Federal Judge Lewis J. Liman is indicating that former New York City mayor and President-elect Donald Trump’s onetime personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, may not fare well at his contempt hearing scheduled for next Friday. This comes as two Georgia election poll workers are seeking to collect a $148 million defamation award they won against Giuliani. The judge issued an order dismissing Giuliani’s attempts to avoid providing information to the workers’ lawyers, and he warned that Giuliani may face consequences at the contempt hearing if he does not comply.
Giuliani is facing a potential threat to his Palm Beach, Florida, condominium as lawyers for the election workers have requested that the judge consider making adverse inferences from evidence in the case that could result in the property being surrendered to satisfy the defamation award. This comes as Giuliani maintains that the Palm Beach property is his personal residence and should be protected from any judgment. A trial is set for January 16 to determine the fate of Giuliani’s Florida residence and his World Series rings.
The contempt request filed by the election workers’ lawyers stems from Giuliani’s alleged failure to turn over various items, including a lease to his Manhattan apartment, a Mercedes, jewelry, watches, a signed Joe DiMaggio shirt, and other baseball memorabilia that were ordered to be handed over by the judge in October. Giuliani’s legal team believes that he will ultimately regain custody of these items on appeal. A deposition for Giuliani was scheduled for Friday, and a request for comment on the matter was made to his lawyer.
Giuliani was found liable for defaming the two Georgia poll workers by falsely accusing them of tampering with ballots during the 2020 presidential election. The women claimed they received death threats after Giuliani’s baseless claims that they had manipulated ballots. The contempt hearing follows a heated November session where Giuliani clashed with the judge, expressing his dissatisfaction with the treatment he was receiving. Despite his protests, Giuliani will have to defend himself against the contempt allegations and potentially face further consequences for his actions.
The escalating legal battle between Giuliani and the election workers underscores the contentious aftermath of the 2020 election, where baseless claims of voter fraud and manipulation have persisted. Giuliani’s role in spreading misinformation and defamation has landed him in legal trouble, and the upcoming contempt hearing will be a crucial moment in determining the repercussions for his actions. As the legal proceedings continue, Giuliani’s future remains uncertain, and the outcome of the trial regarding the defamation award and his property could have significant implications for his reputation and financial well-being.
