Mediaite reports that the judge in the trial of damages involving Rudy Giuliani (a former Trump advisor) strongly criticised Giuliani for his “continued flagrant disregard” to a court’s order. The trial is focused on determining how much Giuliani must pay two Georgian election workers he slandered during the 2020 elections. This follows an earlier ruling which found him liable.
U.S. district judge Beryl Howell emphasized Giuliani’s failure to follow court orders. She highlighted his deliberate withholding financial information that was deemed vital for the ongoing trial. The Hill reports that Judge Howell’s five page ruling highlighted Giuliani’s non-compliance to the court’s August 30th orders to produce financial documents related to his personal and company assets, revenues and income, as well as viewership metrics and social media data.
The judge has instructed the jury that Giuliani deliberately concealed financial information, despite the trial date of December 11th. In light of Giuliani’s deliberate withholding financial information, the court must now determine the amount Giuliani is liable to pay in damages to the election workers.
“GIULIANI’s CONTINUED and FLAGRANT DISREGARD of this COURT’s AUGUST 30, ORDER that he PRODUCE FINANCIAL RELATED DOCUMENTS ABOUT HIS PERSONAL ASSETS AND HIS BUSINESSES’ PAST AND PRESENT REVENUES AND INCOME. VIEWERSHIP METRICS AND SOCIAL MEDIA. ALL OF WHICH ARE POTENTIALLY”
In addition to the legal difficulties that the personal attorney of the former president faces, such as a criminal case in Georgia relating to the 2020 elections and a sexual harassment lawsuit, Judge Howell also brought to light Giuliani’s financial gains from his defamatory acts against election officials as well as the ongoing revenue generated by Giuliani’s businesses which is, in part linked to events surrounding the 2020 elections and his defamatory allegations. This ruling prevents Giuliani’s argument of financial insolvency in the case.
