Judge Demands Accountability from Rudy Giuliani
A federal judge expressed increasing frustration on Thursday with the excuses provided by Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City. Judge Lewis J. Liman, clearly exasperated, posed a critical question: “What can be delivered right now?” This inquiry followed a barrage of questions directed at Giuliani’s legal team regarding his valuable possessions, which include a signed Joe DiMaggio jersey, 26 designer watches, and a vintage Mercedes-Benz.
These items were expected to be surrendered last week as part of the process to fulfill a $148 million judgment awarded to two former Georgia election workers whom Giuliani had defamed. However, the deadline passed without any items being handed over, prompting the judge to assert his authority.
On Thursday, Judge Liman established yet another “final” deadline, dismissing repeated claims from Giuliani’s team that the possessions should remain with him during the appeal process. The judge made it clear that by the end of the following week, Giuliani must either relinquish all specified items or face the possibility of civil contempt. This could lead to significant repercussions, including the potential for jail time.
This tense exchange marks the latest episode in a convoluted saga that has seen the plaintiffs’ legal representatives scouring various high-end locations for Giuliani’s assets. Their search has taken them to:
- A luxury co-op on the Upper East Side
- A condominium in Palm Beach
- A remote storage unit in Ronkonkoma, a hamlet located two hours outside of Manhattan
Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss, the former election workers at the center of this case, initiated a defamation lawsuit against Giuliani in 2021. This action came after he made baseless claims on multiple occasions, alleging that they attempted to steal the presidential election from Donald Trump four years earlier. The fallout from these allegations was severe, as the women, who are Black, endured racist attacks and even received death threats.
