Judge Rebukes Rudy Giuliani for Failing to Surrender Assets in $148M Defamation Case

In a contentious court hearing, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman reprimanded Rudy Giuliani over his failure to surrender valuable assets in connection to a $148 million defamation judgment. The former New York City mayor found liable for defaming Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, faces scrutiny as plaintiffs’ attorneys claim he hasn’t complied with orders to turn over assets.

Judge Liman criticized Giuliani’s explanation as “farcical” after learning that attorneys for Freeman and Moss had recently visited Giuliani’s Manhattan apartment, only to find it emptied of items he was ordered to surrender. This claim was disputed by Giuliani, who insisted that his apartment still contained his possessions. “My apartment was filled with belongings and they just lied,” Giuliani told reporters outside the courthouse, claiming that the apartment was “pretty full with things” and refuting any suggestion of clearing out assets, told The Guardian.

Giuliani also pushed back against specific items Freeman and Moss’s legal team had sought, including a Mercedes and a 150-year-old watch. “The Mercedes has never been in New York, it’s always been in Florida, and it’s there right now. Every bit of property that they want is available if they want it,” he said. “The law says they’re not entitled to a lot of it. For example, they want my grandfather’s watch…usually you don’t get those unless you’re involved in a political persecution.”

Giuliani went further, accusing the court of orchestrating a “political persecution” against him, saying, “The judge knew I couldn’t come today. He’s also scheduled a trial right at the time of Donald Trump’s inauguration. Gee, I wonder why he did that.”

Judge Liman, however, underscored the seriousness of the situation, having previously set an October 29 deadline for Giuliani to comply. He pressed Giuliani’s lawyers on specifics, asking, “Leaving aside the car, the wristwatches, and the like, where do you want it delivered and when?” Plaintiffs’ attorneys responded that they could provide a location within 24 hours, to which Liman retorted, “How about now?”

Giuliani’s defamation liability stems from repeatedly accusing Freeman and Moss of ballot fraud in Georgia, part of the broader, unfounded claims of election fraud he and others promoted following the 2020 presidential race. Freeman and Moss allege that Giuliani’s accusations left them inundated with death threats and harassment, with no evidence supporting the claims he made against them.

The judge made clear that Giuliani is under “an unqualified obligation to deliver all of the receivership property to the receiver,” warning of potential contempt charges should he fail to comply. “If he doesn’t comply, I’m sure I’m going to get a motion for contempt,” Liman remarked.

As the case continues, Giuliani’s defiance and public comments highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding the consequences of his defamation liability. The case serves as a stark reminder of the legal battles Giuliani faces, both from defamation charges and the scrutiny of the judiciary for what the judge described as a failure to meet his obligations under the law.