Rudy Giuliani in Contempt of Court: A $148 Million Defamation Case

Former New York City mayor and close Trump ally, Rudy Giuliani, has been held in contempt of court for failing to fully disclose his assets. This follows a December 2023 ruling where Giuliani was ordered to pay $148 million to two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, whom he falsely accused of election fraud.

Giuliani's actions, echoing unfounded claims of widespread election fraud by Donald Trump, led to the election workers facing harassment and death threats.

The Ongoing Legal Battle

The contempt ruling centers on Giuliani's failure to provide details about his assets, including his Palm Beach condominium, which he claimed as his primary residence to prevent seizure. Lawyers for Freeman and Moss accuse Giuliani of withholding crucial documents needed to liquidate assets like a Mercedes-Benz, a New York apartment, and other valuables including sport memorabilia and cash.

Giuliani's defense argued that the deadline for providing information was too short and that he had attempted to comply, but Judge Liman rejected this, stating that Giuliani's busy schedule wasn't an excuse for noncompliance.

Giuliani himself claimed hesitancy to provide documents, fearing a legal trap, and cited the toll of his many legal battles including criminal cases in Georgia and Arizona, both related to his spreading false election claims.

This ongoing legal drama highlights the significant consequences of spreading misinformation and the challenges of collecting substantial defamation awards.