It was supposed to be a big day for Rudy Giuliani. On Thursday morning, his trial in a Manhattan federal courtroom was set to begin, but the former New York City mayor was nowhere to be found. Instead, four hours later, Giuliani took to social media to announce a settlement in a long-running legal dispute over his properties and assets.
This trial was important—it was supposed to decide whether Giuliani could keep his Florida condo and three World Series rings, or if they would be seized to help pay off the nearly $150 million he owes two women he defamed in the aftermath of the 2020 election.
You see, after making false claims about election fraud, Giuliani was ordered to hand over several of his belongings as part of a defamation verdict, which included his 1980 Mercedes Benz and an Upper East Side penthouse.
But now, it seems Giuliani has struck a deal. According to the women he defamed—Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss—Giuliani gets to keep his properties “in exchange for compensation.” What that compensation looks like, though, remains unclear, especially since Giuliani filed for bankruptcy shortly after being hit with that hefty $148 million defamation verdict.
In fact, just last week, Giuliani was found in contempt of court for missing deadlines and failing to follow orders. A few days later, another court in Washington, D.C., found him guilty of repeatedly lying about Freeman and Moss.
Freeman and Moss, who were election workers falsely accused by Giuliani of manipulating votes, issued a statement following Thursday’s announcement, expressing relief. “We have fought to clear our names, restore our reputations, and prove we did nothing wrong. Today is a big step for us,” they said.
Giuliani, for his part, shared his own statement. He confirmed he will retain his New York and Florida properties, along with “all” of his “personal belongings.” He added that both sides agreed to move forward without further defamation, urging others to do the same.
It wasn’t just the trial that made headlines on Thursday. Giuliani was noticeably absent from the courthouse, with only his legal team present. His son, Andrew Giuliani, was spotted in the lobby, but the former mayor’s whereabouts remained a mystery. Meanwhile, Giuliani posted a video online about his dog, Vinny, at Mar-a-Lago, mentioning that Vinny was “ready to spend a lot more time in Washington, D.C.” No mention of the trial.
This legal drama started in Georgia, where Giuliani falsely accused Freeman and Moss of election fraud. Their lives were upended, with the false accusations leading to threats and harassment. They sued him for defamation, and in December 2023, a jury awarded them a staggering $148 million in damages.
Giuliani’s bankruptcy filing didn’t stop the lawsuits. His creditors and the women have continued to battle for his assets in separate courtrooms. The property turnover case was no different, with the defamed women accusing Giuliani of deliberately violating court orders and delaying the case by hiding assets.
The trial was set to begin just before Trump’s January 20 inauguration, but Giuliani wanted to delay it until February. However, the settlement now seems to free him up for travel.
Despite the legal twists and turns, Freeman and Moss are moving on with their lives. “We can now move forward,” they said, relieved that this chapter is finally coming to a close.
