A federal judge in Manhattan has ordered Rudy Giuliani to hand over his Manhattan penthouse and several luxury possessions to two Georgia election workers as part of the $150 million judgment he owes them for defamation. The judge gave Giuliani seven days to give up assets including his Mercedes-Benz, furniture, luxury watches, and fees owed to him by Trump’s presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee. This ruling stems from false accusations Giuliani made against Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss, regarding election fraud.
Giuliani was found liable for defamation against Freeman and Moss nearly a year ago. They stated that the false claims caused them emotional distress and fears for their safety. The two women were awarded $148,169,000 in a default judgment in December of last year. Giuliani’s bankruptcy filing shortly after prevented them from collecting, but the bankruptcy was dismissed in July for lack of financial transparency.
As part of the receivership terms, Freeman and Moss are allowed to sell off Giuliani’s property that he owes them, potentially netting them millions. The judge has yet to decide on whether Giuliani must surrender three New York Yankees World Series rings that his son claims were given to him as a gift in 2018.
Attorneys for the women expressed satisfaction with the ruling, emphasizing that there are consequences for spreading disinformation intentionally. On the other hand, Giuliani’s legal team remains confident that the judgment will be reversed in the Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., implying that the property will eventually need to be returned.
The case highlights the legal repercussions of defamation and the importance of accountability in spreading false information. It serves as a cautionary tale for public figures and media personalities to be mindful of their statements and the impact they can have on others. Furthermore, the ruling underscores the significance of financial transparency in legal proceedings to ensure that justice is served fairly and accurately.
