“Rudy Giuliani Held in Contempt for Dodging Asset Turnover to Georgia Election Workers!”
A federal judge ruled Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court Monday for failing to adequately respond to evidence requests tied to a $148 million defamation judgment awarded to two Georgia election workers.
Judge Lewis J. Liman said Giuliani “willfully violated” a clear court order by missing a December 20 deadline to provide evidence regarding his Palm Beach, Florida, condominium. The trial will determine whether the property qualifies as his primary residence or must be forfeited as a vacation home.
Liman noted Giuliani failed to disclose the full identities of his doctors and other professional service providers, leading the court to presume none were based in Florida or changed after January 1, 2024—the date Giuliani claimed he made Florida his permanent home. Giuliani is now barred from presenting evidence, such as emails or text messages, to establish his residency there.
The judge criticized Giuliani for producing only a handful of documents while withholding phone records, emails, and texts. He also stated that any “gaps” in evidence could be interpreted against Giuliani during the trial.
Liman postponed judgment on additional sanctions.
Giuliani testified remotely on Monday from his Palm Beach property, following in-person testimony in Manhattan last week. By the time the judge issued his ruling, Giuliani was no longer present.
Joseph Cammarata, Giuliani’s attorney, dismissed the ruling as unsurprising, pointing out that the election workers were also absent from the courtroom.
Giuliani Blasts Legal System After Contempt Ruling in $148M Defamation Case
Rudy Giuliani, 80, lashed out at the justice system after being found in contempt of court on Monday for failing to comply with orders to disclose assets in a $148 million defamation case brought by two Georgia election workers.
“This case is about lawfare and the weaponization of the legal system in New York City,” Giuliani’s attorney, Joseph Cammarata, said. He compared the case to other legal battles against Donald Trump, calling them efforts by “left-wing Democrats using liberal judges” to win cases they would lose on merit.
During the hearing, Giuliani testified remotely against a plain backdrop, as the judge had ordered him to remove his usual American flag display. At one point, Giuliani held up his grandfather’s pocket watch, stating he was prepared to surrender it.
Giuliani admitted he withheld some requested materials, arguing the demands were overly broad, inappropriate, or traps set by the plaintiffs’ lawyers. He also claimed that managing requests from multiple lawsuits made it “impossible to function” 30% to 40% of the time.
Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed these arguments, labeling some claims as “preposterous” and stating suspicion of opposing lawyers’ motives was no excuse for defying court orders.
The election workers’ attorneys accused Giuliani of “willful defiance” of a prior order to relinquish assets, including watches, sports memorabilia, and cash from nonexempt accounts. While Giuliani surrendered a Mercedes-Benz and his New York apartment, he has yet to provide paperwork to monetize those assets. He claimed he is still investigating the whereabouts of a Joe DiMaggio jersey.
The trial to determine whether Giuliani’s Florida condominium and World Series rings must be surrendered is set for January 16. His lawyers remain confident he will eventually recover his personal items on appeal.