ATLANTA , Ga. (WDNews) – Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor, was held in contempt of court Monday for failing to comply with deadlines to provide information about his assets as part of a $148 million defamation judgment. The judgment stems from a lawsuit by two Georgia election workers who were falsely accused by Giuliani of tampering with ballots during the 2020 presidential election.
Judge Lewis J. Liman found Giuliani in “willful violation” of a court order after he missed a Dec. 20 deadline to submit key evidence. The evidence is needed for the court to decide whether Giuliani’s Palm Beach, Florida, condominium qualifies as his primary residence or if it should be surrendered as part of the judgment.
As a consequence of the contempt ruling, the judge stated he may assume during an upcoming trial that Giuliani continued doing business in New York after Jan. 1, 2024, despite Giuliani’s claim that he established permanent residence in Florida.
Giuliani Cites Challenges in Meeting Demands
Testifying remotely from his Florida condominium, Giuliani admitted that he struggled to meet the court’s demands. He cited numerous legal cases requiring asset disclosures and said these demands made it “impossible to function” up to 40% of the time. He also claimed some requests were overly broad or designed as legal traps.
The election workers’ attorneys argued Giuliani has shown a “consistent pattern of defiance.” While he has turned over some assets, including a Mercedes-Benz and a New York apartment, he has reportedly failed to provide the paperwork needed to sell the items or disclose other valuables, such as sports memorabilia and nonexempt cash.
Giuliani said he is still investigating the whereabouts of a Joe DiMaggio jersey, one of the items listed in court documents.
Upcoming Trial and Potential Consequences
The trial, scheduled to begin in 10 days, will determine whether Giuliani can keep the Florida condo or if it should be used to satisfy the judgment. His attorney, Joseph Cammarata, argued that stripping Giuliani of the property before the trial would be equivalent to a civil “death penalty.”
Despite the contempt finding, Giuliani’s legal team maintains that he will ultimately prevail on appeal and retain control of the disputed items.
The case continues to spotlight Giuliani’s financial struggles and legal battles following the defamation judgment.
