A federal judge has issued a ruling that could mark a significant financial blow to Rudy Giuliani, former New York mayor and attorney to Donald Trump. On Tuesday, Judge Lewis Liman of the U.S. District Court in Manhattan ordered Giuliani to turn over his prized possessions and luxury Manhattan penthouse to Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, who were defamed by Giuliani after the 2020 presidential election. The ruling is part of a broader $150 million judgment for damages that Giuliani owes the two women.
Freeman and Moss, who were involved in counting ballots in Georgia during the 2020 election, accused Giuliani of making false claims that put their safety at risk and caused significant emotional and reputational harm. The defamation lawsuit, which concluded last December with a jury verdict against Giuliani, found him liable for perpetuating baseless allegations of ballot tampering, leading to threats and harassment against the mother-daughter duo.
The judge’s order requires Giuliani to relinquish his ownership of the Manhattan penthouse within seven days, with the property to be placed under a receivership controlled by Freeman and Moss. The luxury apartment is expected to be sold to help satisfy the judgment, potentially fetching millions of dollars. In addition to the penthouse, Giuliani must surrender a collection of high-value assets, including several watches given to him by European leaders following the September 11 attacks, a signed Joe DiMaggio jersey, sports memorabilia, and a 1980 Mercedes-Benz once owned by actress Lauren Bacall. He is also required to turn over furniture, jewelry, and a television.
Furthermore, Freeman and Moss are set to receive approximately $2 million in legal fees that Giuliani claims are still owed to him by the Trump campaign. However, the fate of Giuliani’s Palm Beach condominium and his four New York Yankees World Series rings remains undecided, with a hearing scheduled for next Monday to address these remaining assets.
This decision adds to a string of setbacks for Giuliani, whose reputation has suffered amid multiple legal challenges. Once celebrated as “America’s Mayor” for his leadership in New York City during the aftermath of 9/11, Giuliani has since lost his law license due to his role in spreading misinformation about the 2020 election. The consequences have not been limited to him alone; various right-wing media outlets, including Fox News, have faced lawsuits for promoting election conspiracy theories.
The ruling exemplifies the ongoing legal ramifications for attorneys who supported Trump’s efforts to contest the 2020 election results. While criminal cases against Trump and several associates continue to progress at a slower pace, civil judgments like the one against Giuliani highlight the broader accountability being enforced.
As the collection process advances, neither Giuliani’s representatives nor attorneys for Freeman and Moss have commented on the latest developments. The women, who have endured significant public and personal turmoil, continue their pursuit of justice and restitution.
Credit: CNN
