Rudy Giuliani is scheduled to appear in a New York City courtroom on Thursday to explain to a federal judge why he did not hand over valuables as part of a $148 million defamation judgment.
U.S. District Judge Louis Lehman said lawyers for two former Georgia election officials who were sentenced to large sentences visited Giuliani’s Manhattan apartment last week, but that it had been vacant several weeks earlier. The former New York City mayor was ordered to appear in court following the discovery. .
A judge had set an October 29 deadline for Donald Trump’s longtime ally Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea “Shay” Moss to turn over much of their assets to their lawyers.
Possessions include his $5 million Upper East Side apartment, a 1980 Mercedes once owned by movie star Lauren Bacall, a shirt autographed by New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio, and dozens of other items. Contains luxury watches and other valuables.
Mr. Lehman had originally scheduled a conference call to discuss the situation, but after the judge learned of the former mayor’s visit to his apartment, the hearing was moved to a Manhattan federal court in which Mr. Giuliani must attend.
Aaron Nathan, an attorney for the Board of Elections, said in a letter to Liman that his client’s representatives worked with representatives from the moving company to assess the transportation and storage needs of Giuliani’s property. He wrote that the mansion was already “virtually empty” when he visited. Surrender.
He said the group was aware that most of the contents of the apartment, including artwork, sports memorabilia and other valuables, had been removed about four weeks ago, and some had been stored in a warehouse on Long Island. It is said that it was done.
Representatives for Mr. Giuliani did not respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday.
They have argued unsuccessfully so far that Giuliani should not be forced to hand over his belongings while he appeals the ruling.
Mr. Liman also rejected a request from Mr. Giuliani’s lawyers to postpone Thursday’s court appearance to next week or to do so by telephone as originally scheduled.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Giuliani dismissed the legal dispute as an intimidation tactic.
“The opposing lawyers have either acted in a negligent or intentionally deceptive manner and are only trying to further bully and intimidate Mayor Giuliani until he is penniless and homeless,” said Ted Goodman, the mayor’s spokesman. he said earlier this week.
Mr. Giuliani was charged with defamation for promoting Mr. Trump’s baseless allegations of election fraud during the 2020 campaign and falsely accusing Mr. Freeman and Mr. Moss of voter fraud.
The women said they faced death threats after Giuliani accused them of sneaking ballots into suitcases, counting ballots multiple times and tampering with voting machines. Ta.
