Federal Judge Holds Rudy Giuliani in Contempt Over Defamation Case
A federal judge in New York City has ruled that Rudy Giuliani is in contempt of court for failing to adequately respond to requests for information related to a $148 million defamation judgment against him, awarded to two Georgia election workers.
Judge Lewis J. Liman made the decision following a contempt hearing where Giuliani testified for two consecutive days. The former New York City mayor’s non-compliance with evidence production requests was highlighted by the lawyers representing the election workers, who expressed concerns over Giuliani’s handling of the required documentation.
On Friday, Giuliani spent three hours testifying in the Manhattan courtroom but continued his testimony remotely on Monday from his residence in Palm Beach, Florida. During the hearing, Giuliani faced criticism for displaying a backdrop featuring an American flag, which he claimed was part of his online programming. The judge ordered him to switch to a plain background.
Giuliani acknowledged that he had not provided all the requested materials, asserting that some requests were overly broad or "a trap" set by the opposing legal team. He expressed challenges in complying due to numerous ongoing legal proceedings that demanded his attention.
At 80 years old, Giuliani stated that the extensive demands made it "impossible to function in an official way" roughly 30% to 40% of the time. The lawyers for the election workers contended that Giuliani has consistently defied the court’s order to disclose his assets after being found liable for defaming their clients during the 2020 presidential election.
In court documents, they noted that while Giuliani had turned over a Mercedes-Benz and his New York apartment, he had not yielded the necessary paperwork to liquidate these assets. Furthermore, he was accused of failing to surrender valuable items, such as watches, sports memorabilia, and cash from non-exempt accounts.
During Monday’s testimony, Giuliani mentioned that he was investigating the whereabouts of a Joe DiMaggio jersey, stating he is currently unaware of its location.
The election workers’ attorney urged the judge to draw inferences from Giuliani’s incomplete submissions, particularly concerning his medical history over the past four years, which could impact the court’s view on his Florida property not being his primary residence and therefore susceptible to seizure.
Giuliani’s attorney challenged this assertion, likening such a decision to a civil "death penalty," which could result in Giuliani losing his Florida property before the trial set for mid-January, where further evidence and testimony will be presented.
Giuliani maintains that his Palm Beach residence is his personal home and should be protected from the judgment. His legal team has expressed confidence that he will ultimately prevail in the appeal regarding the assets in question.
