Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani received a tongue-lashing in federal court for missing a deadline to turn over valuables to two election workers he defamed. The women, Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea Moss, are owed millions in damages by Giuliani, who spread lies about them after the 2020 presidential election. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman ordered Giuliani to appear in person after he failed to meet his obligations to the women, who recently discovered that Giuliani’s Manhattan apartment had been emptied out, complicating their efforts to obtain his assets.
Giuliani was given until October 29 to surrender a long list of possessions, including a vintage Mercedes, high-end watches, sports memorabilia, and money allegedly owed to him by President Trump’s 2020 campaign. Despite attempts to turn over the assets, Giuliani was found in possession of the vintage Mercedes convertible, which he claimed could be appraised at less than $4,000. Liman rejected Giuliani’s request to attend the hearing remotely, citing the importance of his compliance with the court order. The former mayor was given until November 15 to comply with the court’s directive and turn over his property to the defamed women.
The award of $148 million in damages to Freeman and Moss in December 2023 sent Giuliani into bankruptcy, as the court ruled in their favor due to the false statements spread by Giuliani about them after the election. Liman expressed frustration at Giuliani’s failure to be forthcoming about his assets, despite being the only person listed on a document with such knowledge. The judge called Giuliani’s request to remove his name from the document “farcical,” and emphasized the importance of answering questions truthfully and fully. Giuliani’s lawyer, Kenneth Caruso, argued that the vintage Mercedes was worth less than $4,000 and requested the vehicle be exempt from seizure.
The court’s order for Giuliani to turn over his possessions, including the Mercedes and other valuable items, was met with resistance as Giuliani attempted to keep possession of items he deemed essential. Liman’s decision to require Giuliani’s in-person appearance emphasized the gravity of the situation, as the women sought to obtain their rightful compensation for the damages caused by Giuliani’s defamatory statements. Despite the challenges posed by Giuliani’s resistance, the court remained steadfast in its demand for compliance and set a deadline for Giuliani to surrender his assets to Freeman and Moss. As the legal battle continues, Giuliani faces pressure to fulfill his obligations and rectify the harm caused by his actions.
