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In a significant legal development, Rudolph Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, has been ordered by Judge Lewis J. Liman of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York to hand over his Mercedes-Benz to two election workers from the 2020 presidential race. This comes after a $146 million defamation judgment against him by Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, whom he falsely accused of election ballot tampering.
During a status conference, Giuliani’s legal counsel claimed uncertainty about the location of various assets, leading to Judge Liman’s frustration. Giuliani, refusing to disclose information about others knowledgeable of his assets, cited concerns of those individuals being “tortured” during the discovery phase. Liman, unsatisfied with these defenses, insisted on compliance, warning of potential contempt proceedings.
Giuliani’s legal team, led by Kenneth Caruso, argued unsuccessfully for the Mercedes to be exempt from seizure due to its purported low value, which Liman dismissed as a delayed contention. Giuliani is now required to deliver the vehicle’s keys and documentation imminently.
This decision follows an August dismissal of Giuliani’s bankruptcy, leaving his properties vulnerable to creditor claims. Despite the court orders, efforts to seize assets have reportedly been met with evasive tactics, described by Freeman and Moss’s attorney Aaron E. Nathan of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP as mere “gameplay.”
The assets endangered include Giuliani’s Manhattan penthouse, Palm Beach condominium, various cash accounts, luxury watches, and a substantial claim for unpaid legal fees from the 2020 Trump campaign. Complications remain, particularly with the Manhattan co-op’s transfer, now hindered by “paperwork issues” beyond Giuliani’s control.
The ongoing legal battle details can be found in the case docket of Freeman v. Giuliani, S.D.N.Y., No. 24-00353, with another hearing slated for November 7, 2024.
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