Giuliani Held In Contempt?
A federal judge has found Rudy Giuliani in civil contempt for failing to comply with court orders related to the ongoing defamation case filed by two former Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. The case revolves around Giuliani’s false accusations that the women engaged in election fraud during the 2020 election, leading to a significant defamation judgment against him.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman, a Trump appointee, ruled that Giuliani deliberately avoided fulfilling his legal obligations to provide crucial information about his professional services and communications accounts, which could be essential in determining his financial standing. Judge Liman emphasized that Giuliani had been attempting to “run out the clock” and delay the discovery process in the case, obstructing Freeman and Moss’s efforts to collect the $146 million they won in their defamation suit.
The judge issued a narrower adverse inference against Giuliani, meaning that he would face consequences in future legal proceedings related to his Florida condo, which is at the heart of his asset dispute. While Liman withheld a final decision on full sanctions, his initial ruling signals serious consequences for Giuliani’s defiance of the court’s orders. This comes after Giuliani’s history of noncompliance with court directives, including his failure to meet discovery requirements in previous cases.
Freeman and Moss have spent over a year trying to collect the judgment from Giuliani, who has already been forced to surrender significant assets, including his luxury car, watches, and New York apartment. However, the election workers continue to report that Giuliani is obstructing their efforts to seize other valuable items, such as critical ownership documents and even a signed Joe DiMaggio jersey.
Giuliani defended himself during a two-day hearing, claiming that his delays were due to his ongoing legal battles and a strained relationship with his previous attorneys, who accused him of refusing to cooperate. His new lawyer, Joseph Cammarata, argued that Giuliani had made substantial progress in complying with court orders and requested that he not be held in contempt.
Despite these claims, Freeman and Moss’s legal team is determined to continue pushing for full compliance, asserting that no party should be allowed to present selective evidence in the trial. The next round of legal battles will focus on whether Giuliani can retain his Florida condo, as well as his claims regarding other assets, including World Series rings he gifted to his son. These proceedings will culminate in a trial on January 16.
Giuliani’s legal troubles don’t end here. He faces another contempt hearing in Washington, D.C., where he is accused of continuing to spread false information about the two election workers. This ongoing saga serves as a stark reminder of the legal consequences that can follow attempts to undermine election integrity and spread misinformation.
