Judge Orders Rudy Giuliani to Appear in Court for Failure to Surrender Assets
Background
A judge has ordered Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, to appear in a New York courtroom on Thursday to explain why he missed a deadline to surrender his belongings as part of a $148 million defamation judgment. The judgment was awarded to Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea "Shaye" Moss, two former Georgia election workers who were accused of ballot fraud by Giuliani during the 2020 election.
What Happened
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued the order late Monday after lawyers for Freeman and Moss reported that they went to Giuliani’s Manhattan apartment last week to see what assets were there, but found that it had been cleared out. The judge had set an October 29 deadline for Giuliani to surrender many of his possessions to representatives for Freeman and Moss, but none of the items have been turned over yet.
What Possessions Are at Stake
The list of possessions includes Giuliani’s $5 million Upper East Side apartment, a 1980 Mercedes once owned by movie star Lauren Bacall, and a variety of other belongings, such as a shirt signed by New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio, 26 luxury watches, and a TV.
Giuliani’s Response
Ted Goodman, a spokesperson for Giuliani, said that Giuliani has made his possessions available to Freeman and Moss, but did not directly answer questions about why no assets have been turned over so far. Goodman accused Freeman and Moss’ lawyers of "bullying and intimidating" Giuliani and attempting to "render him penniless and homeless."
What’s Next
The judge originally scheduled a status conference by phone for Thursday, but changed it to an in-person hearing and ordered Giuliani to appear in person in response to the report by Freeman and Moss’ attorneys. Freeman and Moss’ lawyers are seeking to take possession of many of Giuliani’s assets as part of the court case.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Giuliani’s failure to surrender his assets has raised concerns about his transparency and compliance with the court’s orders. As the case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what will happen next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the background of the case?
A: Rudy Giuliani, a former New York City mayor and longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, was found liable for defamation for falsely accusing two former Georgia election workers of ballot fraud during the 2020 election.
Q: What is the amount of the defamation judgment?
A: The judgment is for $148 million.
Q: What are the assets that Giuliani is being ordered to surrender?
A: The list of possessions includes a $5 million Upper East Side apartment, a 1980 Mercedes, and various other belongings, such as a shirt signed by New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio, 26 luxury watches, and a TV.
Q: What is the next step in the case?
A: Giuliani has been ordered to appear in court to explain why he missed the deadline to surrender his assets, and Freeman and Moss’ lawyers are seeking to take possession of many of his assets as part of the court case.
