Judge holds Giuliani in contempt in Georgia election workers case

A federal judge held Rudy Giuliani in civil contempt on Monday for failing to comply with court orders in two former Georgia election workers’ efforts to collect their $146 million defamation judgment.

At the end of a two-day hearing that saw Giuliani take the stand, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman agreed with the election workers that the former New York City mayor willfully disobeyed requirements to turn over information about his professional services and messaging accounts.

“The only conclusion the court can draw, and the one which it does draw, is that defendant has been attempting to run the clock, thwarting plaintiff's efforts to get plainly relevant information by stalling,” Liman announced from the bench.

As punishment, Liman said he would draw a “narrower” adverse inference against the former New York City mayor and prevent Giuliani from offering certain evidence as he attempts to hold on to his Florida condo at trial later this month, but the judge said he would decide the full extent of sanctions later.

The judge, an appointee of President-elect Trump, noted that Giuliani, once a close ally of Trump's, was until recently a barred attorney and had previously failed to comply with court orders.

“The motion comes against the backdrop of defendant ignoring his other discovery obligations. In this case, he knew of his discovery obligations and of the possible consequences of failing to comply with them,” Liman said.

Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss, have waged a yearlong effort to collect on their $146 million defamation judgment they won at trial in December 2023 over Giuliani’s false claims that the duo engaged in mass election fraud while serving as election workers in Atlanta on election night in 2020.

Giuliani has been forced to turn over some of his most prized possessions, including his Mercedes-Benz, watches and his New York City apartment.

But the election workers have said he is continuing to stall their efforts to collect his remaining, nonexempt assets, like other watches, critical ownership documents and a signed Joe DiMaggio jersey.

At the center of the contempt hearing were Giuliani’s delays in turning over information about his professional services, phone numbers and other messaging accounts — information that could shed light on whether he is entitled to retain his Florida condo as his homestead.

Giuliani took the stand for two days, once in person and once virtually, and faced questioning on whether he was defying the judge’s rulings. The mayor-turned-Trump attorney contended he is substantially complying with the court-ordered turnover of his assets and is working to hand over what is left.

Explaining the delays, Giuliani has cited being bogged down with his other pending legal battles and a breakdown in his relationship with his now-former attorneys, who withdrew after accusing Giuliani of refusing to cooperate in providing electronic discovery to the election workers in their collection efforts.

Giuliani’s new attorney, Joseph Cammarata, contested the attorneys’ narrative at the conclusion of Monday’s hearing, instead insisting his client was working to comply.

“I respectfully submit to the court to not hold the defendant in contempt, to sanction the defendant for any lack of production, of discovery responses, because documents were produced, interrogatories were answered, and dozens of items in response the documents were turned over to plaintiff,” Cammarata said.

Cammarata argued that the adverse inferences would amount to a fatal blow for Giuliani in his effort to hold on to his Florida condo, his only remaining residence after he was forced to turn over his New York City apartment.

Giuliani's bid to retain the Florida property as well as his claims that the election workers aren’t entitled to his World Series rings because Giuliani gifted them to his son, Andrew, are set to go to trial on Jan. 16.

“It would be the death penalty in this case,” Cammarata told the judge.

Lawyers for Freeman and Moss on Monday said they sought “specific deterrence” from a ruling in their favor, while admitting that, for Giuliani specifically, that “may be something of a lost cause.”

“Plaintiffs are still prepared to go to trial,” said Aaron Nathan, a lawyer for election workers. “Plaintiffs are prepared to go to trial on a level playing field, where no party is permitted to offer evidence that's cherry-picked or the subject of court order disobedience.”

Separately, Giuliani faces a contempt hearing in Washington, D.C., on Friday morning over accusations he has continued to make false statements about the election workers.

Ella Lee contributed reporting.

Updated at 4:30 p.m. EDT

Topics

Rudy Giuliani Is Held in Contempt of Court in Defamation Case

Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, has failed to turn over his assets to two Georgia poll workers who won a defamation lawsuit against him.
The New York Times - 1d
Rudy Giuliani found in contempt of court over response to defamation judgment

Judge makes ruling after Trump ally fails to comply with requests for information as he turns over assets. Rudy Giuliani has been found in contempt of court for failing to provide financial ...
The Guardian - 1d
Judge finds Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court in defamation case

A judge found the former Trump lawyer in contempt for not complying with orders to turn over information about his assets to two former Georgia election workers he defamed.
NBC News - 1d
Judge holds Giuliani in contempt for failing to turn over property to poll workers

A federal judge in New York held Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court for failing to turn over personal property to two Georgia election workers he defamed.
ABC News - 1d
Rudy Giuliani found in contempt of court

A judge has found Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court for failing to properly respond to requests for information in response to a $148 million defamation judgment granted to two Georgia election ...
CBS News - 1d
Rudy Giuliani, Slow to Transfer Assets to Election Workers, Could Be Held in Contempt

The former mayor of New York City could be held in contempt of court after failing to fully comply with orders to surrender millions of dollars in assets to election workers he defamed.
The New York Times - 4d
House holds vote to elect speaker

Watch live coverage as the House of Representatives holds a vote to elect the next speaker, with current House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., aiming for re-election.
NBC News - 4d
Judge to decide whether to hold Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is expected to be at a court hearing in New York on Friday about whether he should be found in contempt of court, an appearance the longtime ally of ...
NBC News - 4d