A federal judge has ordered Rudy Giuliani to hand over some of his most valuable assets to Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss following his failure to satisfy a $148 million defamation judgment.
This ruling, issued on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman, requires Giuliani to turn over his possessions, including his Manhattan penthouse, within seven days. The decision comes after Giuliani was found liable for defaming Freeman and Moss by spreading false claims that they tampered with ballots during the 2020 election while working at a Georgia polling station.
Freeman and Moss sued Giuliani in a defamation case, and a jury ruled in their favor last year, awarding them $148 million for the emotional and reputational damage caused by his false allegations. Despite the judgment, Giuliani has yet to pay the amount owed, and after failing to declare bankruptcy or settle the debt, the court has now ordered the seizure of his property.
Personal belongings such as a collection of watches (including a 9/11 commemorative piece), a signed Joe DiMaggio jersey, and a vintage 1980 Mercedes are expected to be relinquished.
Rudy Giuliani has been ordered to surrender his assets/personal property (including interests in his Madison Ave. co-op apartment and his 1980 Mercedes Benz) to the former Georgia election workers who successfully sued him for defamation and obtained a nearly $150 million… pic.twitter.com/KZPjxFGC4V
— Sam Dorman (@EpochofDorman) October 22, 2024
Now, let’s talk about what exactly is on the table. Not only are we talking about his penthouse, but the list includes a pretty wild assortment of personal treasures: about two dozen watches (because who doesn’t need 24 watches?), a signed Joe DiMaggio jersey, and even a 1980 Mercedes. It’s like a yard sale of Giuliani’s glory days. But hey, when you owe $148 million, everything must go.
The ruling also entitles Freeman and Moss to roughly $2 million in legal fees, which Giuliani has stated that former President Donald Trump still owes him. One of his more substantial assets, a condominium in Palm Beach, Florida, is still under consideration, with a hearing scheduled for Monday to determine its fate. This latest development compounds Giuliani’s recent troubles, as he also lost his law license in September.
Let’s not forget that Giuliani also lost his law license last year, which adds insult to injury. Once at the top of the legal profession and a key figure in Trump’s post-election legal efforts, he’s now banned from practicing law.
(CNN) — A federal judge has ordered Rudy Giuliani to turn over all his valuable possessions and his Manhattan penthouse to Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, the Georgia election workers he defamed and to whom he now owes $150 million.
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) October 22, 2024
Giuliani’s legal team has not publicly responded to the judge’s recent order, while Freeman and Moss’s legal representatives have emphasized the importance of the ruling, stating that it serves as a strong message against spreading disinformation. This outcome marks another setback for Giuliani, whose financial and legal challenges have mounted following his high-profile role as an attorney for Trump during and after the 2020 election.
