A federal judge in New York has held Rudy Giuliani in contempt and imposed sanctions on him for repeatedly ignoring court orders. This stems from a legal case involving two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shay Moss, who are seeking to collect $148 million awarded to them after Giuliani defamed them.
The judge, Lewis J. Liman, who was appointed by Donald Trump, had warned Giuliani about his behavior. Last month, the plaintiffs asked for action, pointing out what they called a “consistent pattern of willful defiance” by Giuliani. This included not turning over personal property and withholding information needed for the case. After a two-day hearing, Judge Liman ruled in favor of Freeman and Moss, describing the decision as an easy one to make.
Judge Liman made it clear that Giuliani had violated a court order by failing to meet a December 20 deadline. He emphasized that Giuliani, once a practicing attorney, should know better. According to the judge, Giuliani had also been untruthful in explaining his lack of compliance.
The case also involves Giuliani’s Florida condominium, which he claims is his permanent residence. This is important because Florida law could protect the property from being used to pay debts if it’s his main home. But Freeman and Moss argue that Giuliani uses the condo more like a vacation home. They also allege that Giuliani hasn’t answered discovery questions honestly, which could prove he’s misrepresenting the situation.
This disagreement about Giuliani’s Florida condo—and even the fate of his New York Yankees World Series rings—will be part of the trial set for January 16, 2025. Meanwhile, Freeman and Moss have requested information about Giuliani’s financial and professional connections from the past four years, as well as details about his email accounts and phone numbers.
Despite being ordered to provide this information, Giuliani has refused, claiming various privileges like attorney-client and doctor-patient confidentiality. He also cited safety concerns due to threats he’s received. Judge Liman rejected these excuses, calling Giuliani’s objections baseless and accusing him of disrespecting the law.
During Monday’s hearing, the judge criticized Giuliani for not even providing a single email during the discovery process. Liman remarked that Giuliani seemed to be “running out the clock” and deliberately delaying the case. The judge stated that Giuliani’s actions had harmed Freeman and Moss’s ability to prepare for the trial.
Liman is still deciding on the exact penalties for Giuliani but noted that his actions showed no “substantial compliance” with court orders. The judge also pointed out that Giuliani’s behavior had a history, referencing past legal violations.
This isn’t the only trouble Giuliani is facing. He has another contempt hearing scheduled in Washington, D.C., where he’s accused of continuing to make defamatory claims about Freeman and Moss despite being ordered to stop. The plaintiffs argue that Giuliani’s damaging statements persisted even after they won the judgment against him, leading to their motion for further penalties.
For Giuliani, the legal battles seem far from over, with each hearing adding to his growing list of woes. For Freeman and Moss, this is a fight not just for justice but also to hold someone accountable for spreading harmful lies.
