Access to Rudy Giuliani’s Manhattan apartment is set for Thursday, as his lawyers and a moving company representative prepare to evaluate the contents of the former New York City mayor’s residence. This follows Giuliani’s failure to meet a court-mandated deadline for surrendering assets to Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, who won a staggering $148 million defamation judgment against him.
Background on the Defamation Case
Freeman and Moss, former Georgia election workers, have accused Giuliani of making false statements regarding their conduct during the 2020 election. Giuliani claimed they were involved in ballot fraud, asserting they illegally counted votes multiple times and tampered with voting machines. His allegations, rooted in unfounded claims of election fraud, led to severe consequences for the two women, including death threats that left them fearing for their safety. The jury’s $148 million verdict was a significant reflection of the harm caused by Giuliani’s statements.
Court-Ordered Asset Turnover
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman previously ordered Giuliani to surrender various prized possessions, including:
- His $5 million Upper East Side apartment
- A 1980 Mercedes once owned by actress Lauren Bacall
- Luxury items such as 26 watches, a signed shirt from Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio, and a television.
Despite the order, Giuliani missed the Tuesday deadline for transferring these items. His attorney, Kenneth Caruso, claimed that while Giuliani was ready to comply, Freeman and Moss’s legal team had not provided clear instructions on how to proceed. In contrast, Freeman’s attorney, Aaron Nathan, stated that Giuliani’s team was unresponsive to basic inquiries about the asset’s locations.
Moving Forward
The court document filed late Wednesday indicated that representatives would assess the apartment’s contents and estimate the cost of retrieving the listed items. If the transfer is not completed by Monday, Judge Liman has scheduled a status conference for November 7 to discuss further actions.
Giuliani’s Response
While voting in West Palm Beach, Florida, Giuliani did not confirm any access to his New York apartment. He voiced his belief that he did not have an opportunity to defend himself in the defamation case and anticipates a reversal of the judgment on appeal. He described the trial as potentially the “most unfair” in American history, drawing a parallel to the legal challenges faced by Trump supporters involved in the January 6 Capitol riot.
Giuliani has faced significant legal scrutiny, as a separate judge had previously found him liable for defamation for not providing requested information. Consequently, a trial followed to determine damages, resulting in the substantial verdict against him.
Fundraising Efforts Amid Legal Struggles
Giuliani’s legal defense fund has begun soliciting donations to combat what he describes as “Deep State plans” to undermine him. An email from the fund stated, “They want my home, my belongings, even all of the nostalgic keepsakes that I’ve collected throughout my 80 years of life.” His legal team contends that Freeman and Moss should not have access to his belongings while the appeal is pending, but Judge Liman ruled against this claim.
Ongoing Legal Battles
In addition to the current asset turnover case, Giuliani’s legal challenges include whether he should surrender his $3 million Palm Beach condo, which he claims as his primary residence, along with several Yankees World Series rings he received during his mayoralty.
