Former New York City mayor and ex-personal attorney to Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, found himself in a tense courtroom exchange with U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman over his failure to comply with court-ordered asset transfers in the defamation case brought by Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. Giuliani owed $148 million in damages after falsely accusing them of voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election.
The focal point of the heated argument was Giuliani’s inability to produce the title for his 1980 Mercedes convertible, one of the assets he was ordered to surrender. Judge Liman expressed doubt over the delay, stating, “The car without the keys and title is meaningless.”
Visibly agitated, Giuliani responded, “I have applied for the title. I haven’t gotten it yet. What am I supposed to do, make it up myself?” He also disputed allegations of negligence, asserting that he had been diligent in his efforts.
Painting a grim financial picture, Giuliani informed the court that all his assets were tied up. He stated, “I don’t have a car. I don’t have a credit card. I don’t have cash.” Furthermore, he claimed that access to his bank accounts had been restricted without proper justification.
Judge Liman warned Giuliani about further outbursts and emphasized that he must either allow his attorneys to represent him or personally represent himself. The judge stated that if Giuliani wished to address the court again, he would need to do so as a sworn witness.
The courtroom confrontation occurred during a pretrial hearing ahead of a scheduled trial on January 16th. Despite Giuliani’s attorney requesting a delay due to his involvement with President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20th, Judge Liman denied the request. The trial will determine what happens to assets such as Giuliani’s Florida residence and World Series rings.
Giuliani, who once served as Trump’s personal attorney, was found liable for defaming Freeman and Moss by falsely accusing them of ballot tampering. These baseless allegations resulted in the women receiving death threats and harassment.
Adding to Giuliani’s legal troubles, two of his attorneys withdrew from the case earlier that day, citing “professional ethics” concerns. This left him with only one remaining attorney, Joseph M. Cammarata.
Judge Liman had previously ordered Giuliani to surrender the title to his car and other assets by December 13th or face penalties, potentially including jail time. The judge expressed frustration at the delays, particularly considering Giuliani’s background as a former U.S. attorney.
Beyond the defamation case, Giuliani faces additional lawsuits and investigations, including potential disbarment and inquiries into his involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.