What’s New
A federal judge has ordered Rudy Giuliani to appear at a contempt hearing on Jan. 3, 2025, following his failure to turn over assets as mandated in a defamation judgment worth $148 million.
Newsweek has reached out to Giuliani’s representatives outside of working hours for comment.
Why It Matters
This case highlights Giuliani’s mounting legal and financial troubles. Once a celebrated prosecutor and “America’s Mayor,” Giuliani’s legacy has been overshadowed by legal battles tied to his role in former President Donald Trump’s postelection challenges.
Giuliani was found liable last year for defaming two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea “Shaye” Moss Rudy, after falsely accusing them of ballot tampering during the 2020 presidential election.
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What To Know
The assets in question include a New York apartment lease, a Mercedes-Benz, luxury watches, and a signed Joe DiMaggio shirt. These items were among the possessions Giuliani was ordered to relinquish to satisfy the hefty final sum.
Judge Lewis J. Liman has expressed concern over Giuliani’s compliance with the court’s orders, setting the stage for the upcoming hearing to determine if contempt sanctions are warranted.
Giuliani has reportedly turned over a significant portion of the required assets but maintains that certain delays are beyond his control. During a heated November court hearing, he stated, “I don’t have a car. I don’t have a credit card. I don’t have cash. I can’t pay my bills,” while accusing Judge Liman of unfairly questioning his diligence in obtaining necessary documents, such as the title to a car he claims to have surrendered.
Liman, however, rebuked Giuliani for his courtroom interruptions, warning his legal team that further disruptions would not be tolerated. Giuliani’s Florida residence and World Series rings are also under scrutiny in a separate trial scheduled for Jan. 16, as efforts to secure full compliance with the judgment continue.
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What People Are Saying
Joseph Cammarata, Giuliani’s attorney, in a statement to the press: Described “another act of lawfare” imposed by the election workers’ counsel. “Their mission is to destroy Mayor Giuliani,” the emailed statement continued. “We look forward to deposing the Plaintiffs and prevailing at trial.”
Rudy Giuliani, during earlier court proceedings: “The implication I’ve been not diligent about it is totally incorrect [ …] The implication you make is against me and every implication against me is wrong.”
“I’m not impoverished. Everything I have is tied up. I don’t have a car. I don’t have a credit card. I don’t have cash. I can’t get to bank accounts that truly would be mine because they have put … stop orders on, for example, my Social Security account, which they have no right to do.”
Attorneys for Freeman and Moss, during earlier court proceedings: Argued in a filing in a Washington, D.C. federal court that Giuliani has “brazenly” violated an agreement he signed to stop repeating the falsehoods and that sanctions should be imposed. The alleged violations came in statements he made during two recent broadcasts of his nightly show on the social media platform X.
What Happens Next
The Jan. 3 contempt hearing will determine if Giuliani faces penalties for his noncompliance, which could include fines or imprisonment.
Giuliani also faces a trial Jan. 16 before Liman over the disposition of his Florida residence and World Series rings.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
