Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani's legal troubles deepen as his Manhattan apartment is found virtually empty amid court-ordered asset surrender requirements.
According to Scripps News, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman has demanded Giuliani's presence in court Thursday following his failure to comply with asset surrender deadlines.
The former mayor faces mounting pressure after missing an October 29 deadline to surrender possessions as part of a $148 million defamation judgment. This judgment stems from false accusations he made against two Georgia election workers during the 2020 election controversy.
The court mandate requires Giuliani to surrender numerous valuable possessions, including his Upper East Side apartment valued at $5 million. Additional items include a 1980 Mercedes previously owned by Lauren Bacall, 26 luxury watches, and various memorabilia such as a Joe DiMaggio-signed shirt.
When attorneys for Ruby Freeman and Wandrea "Shaye" Moss visited Giuliani's Manhattan residence, they discovered an almost barren apartment. The space contained only basic furnishings, leaving questions about the whereabouts of the mandated items.
Giuliani's spokesperson, Ted Goodman, offered an explanation while defending the former mayor's position. He suggested that some items had been placed in storage over the past year, while other removals were related to Giuliani's livestream programming equipment.
Ted Goodman provided this statement regarding the situation:
Opposing counsel, acting either negligently or deliberately in a deceptive manner, are simply attempting to further bully and intimidate Mayor Giuliani until he is rendered penniless and homeless. This is just another way that they've weaponized our once-sacred justice system. It should concern each and every American.
The judge rejected Giuliani's request to postpone or conduct the hearing remotely, despite his lawyer's plea regarding broadcasting commitments in Florida. These broadcasts currently represent Giuliani's sole source of earned income.
Giuliani's legal team has unsuccessfully attempted to prevent Freeman and Moss from obtaining and selling his belongings while his appeal proceeds in Washington's federal court. The situation continues to evolve as attorneys seek clarity on the location of moved items.
Lawyers for the former election workers report significant challenges in locating Giuliani's assets. Their investigation revealed that most items were removed approximately four weeks prior to their court-authorized inspection.
The attorneys discovered that some property may have been relocated to a storage facility in Ronkonkoma, about 50 miles from Manhattan. However, no inventory of stored items has been provided by Giuliani's legal team.
Aaron Nathan, representing the former election workers, expressed frustration with the lack of transparency regarding the assets' locations. The situation has prompted increased scrutiny of Giuliani's compliance with court orders.
The defamation case originated from Giuliani's false accusations against Freeman and Moss regarding ballot fraud during the 2020 election. His claims included allegations of smuggling ballots in suitcases and tampering with voting machines, leading to severe consequences for the election workers. The ongoing asset surrender dispute represents the latest chapter in a complex legal battle that has significant implications for both Giuliani's financial future and the enforcement of defamation judgments.
