Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City and once a personal attorney to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, found himself in hot water once again on Tuesday after a federal judge reprimanded him during a court hearing. Giuliani, 80, interrupted proceedings to argue that he could not pay his bills due to his assets being tied up by two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea Moss, who won a $148 million defamation verdict against him.
The dispute centers around Giuliani’s repeated false claims that Freeman and Moss had been involved in election fraud during the 2020 U.S. presidential election. These defamatory remarks, made by Giuliani in his role as Trump’s attorney, led to the lawsuit, which was ultimately won by the two election workers in a Washington, D.C. jury trial. Giuliani was ordered to compensate the women for the reputational harm caused by his baseless allegations.
On Tuesday, during a Manhattan court hearing, Giuliani’s attorney, Joseph Cammarata, attempted to explain that his client had already surrendered 90% of his assets. However, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman was unimpressed, questioning Giuliani’s claim of financial hardship given his previous role as a top federal prosecutor in Manhattan. The judge raised doubts about Giuliani’s ability to provide documentation for surrendering his 1980 Mercedes, pointing to his extensive experience in law enforcement as evidence that he should be fully capable of complying with court orders.
Giuliani, visibly frustrated, spoke out, insisting that his daily life had been severely impacted by the legal situation. “I don’t have a car, I don’t have a credit card, I don’t have cash,” he declared, adding that he was unable to pay his bills. The outburst prompted Judge Liman to cut Giuliani off, warning him that any future remarks in court would require him to testify under oath. The judge emphasized that Giuliani’s compliance with the court’s orders should be his top priority, not further delays or excuses.
The upcoming trial, scheduled for January 16, 2024, will focus on whether Giuliani must surrender additional assets, including property in Florida and sports memorabilia, to partially satisfy the $148 million judgment. Meanwhile, Judge Liman rejected Giuliani’s request to delay the trial so that he could attend events surrounding Trump’s inauguration on January 20. “The defendant’s social calendar does not constitute due cause,” the judge remarked sharply.
Giuliani’s legal troubles continue to mount. He has already been disbarred in New York and faces criminal charges in Georgia and Arizona for his alleged role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. As his court battles drag on, Giuliani remains under the spotlight for his actions during one of the most contentious periods in U.S. political history.
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