In a surprising turn of events, Rudy Giuliani, who faces ongoing legal challenges, is making new requests regarding his court appearances.
As reported by The Independent, the former New York City mayor has requested a postponement of his defamation trial enforcement proceedings to attend Donald Trump's presidential inauguration scheduled for January 2025.
The trial, which concerns the enforcement of a $150 million judgment against Giuliani, is currently set for January 16, 2025. Through his new attorney, Joseph Cammarata, Giuliani has requested the court to reschedule the proceedings until after January 22, arguing that this would allow him to attend the inauguration events without conflicting with his legal obligations.
Giuliani's legal team has raised objections regarding the turnover of his personal belongings to Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, the election workers who won the defamation case against him. His attorney argues that the seizure of certain items, including household furniture and a Joe DiMaggio shirt, violates state laws in both New York and Florida, where Giuliani maintains residences.
The former mayor's 1980 Mercedes-Benz has become a particular point of contention. Despite previously valuing the classic car at $25,000, Giuliani's team now insists on a formal appraisal, arguing that vehicles worth less than $5,500 are exempt from seizure.
This dispute has gained additional attention after revelations that Giuliani drove the vehicle to a polling site on Election Day despite lacking a valid driver's license.
Cammarata expressed his client's position in a Friday letter to the judge, stating:
There would be no harm to the plaintiffs by a delay of a few days in the trial schedule, and I am sure that the Court would have other dates available other than January 16, 17, or 20, 2025 for this trial
Recent developments have brought attention to Giuliani's business relationships and financial arrangements. The court has ordered two of his associates, Maria Ryan and Ted Goodman, to respond to subpoenas regarding their financial connections to the former mayor.
These investigations have revealed Giuliani's involvement in a storage facility arrangement with Ryan and his majority ownership in a newly formed company called Standard USA. The company's structure shows Giuliani holding 88 percent ownership, with Ryan and Goodman possessing 10 and 2 percent stakes, respectively.
The election workers' legal team has raised concerns about potential asset transfers, specifically pointing to property movements from Giuliani's Manhattan penthouse to a Long Island storage facility registered under Ryan's name. These transfers allegedly occurred before the court's order to surrender valuables.
Giuliani's current legal situation stems from a December jury verdict that found him liable for defaming Freeman and Moss through false claims about the 2020 election results. The judgment led to Giuliani's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, which was subsequently dismissed.
The judge has scheduled a hearing for November 26 to address the trial delay request and other pending matters. This development comes shortly after Giuliani's previous attorney's unexpected departure from the case last week.
The former mayor, who served as Trump's personal lawyer during his first term, continues to face multiple legal challenges, including charges in Georgia's election interference case alongside Trump. Both have maintained their innocence through not-guilty pleas.
