Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who served as Donald Trump’s attorney during the 2020 election, has been ordered by a federal judge to surrender nearly all of his assets. Giuliani was sued for defamation by Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss after accusing them of ballot fraud, and a Washington, D.C. court found him liable, ordering him to pay nearly $150 million.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued a ruling mandating Giuliani to hand over his property and assets to a court-controlled receivership, enabling the liquidation and sale of items to satisfy the judgment. This process will affect nearly all Giuliani’s possessions, including collectibles and items of sentimental value. The court’s move is significant as it unfolds while Giuliani’s appeal of the defamation judgment is still pending.
The defamation case stems from accusations made by Giuliani against Freeman and Moss, election workers in Georgia, after the 2020 election. In video footage, the pair appeared to be handling ballots, which led Giuliani and others to allege suspicious conduct. These claims, however, were dismissed as unfounded by numerous election authorities and fact-checkers. Freeman and Moss filed a defamation lawsuit, claiming that Giuliani’s statements led to reputational damage, threats, and intimidation.
A judge awarded Freeman and Moss $146 million in compensation, in addition to interest and fees. When Freeman and Moss pursued the judgment, Giuliani filed for bankruptcy protection, which a bankruptcy judge later dismissed, placing him back on the hook for the financial liabilities. Now, with his appeal pending, the judge’s recent order requires Giuliani to comply by handing over nearly everything of value.
Judge Liman’s ruling specifies that Giuliani’s assets and personal property must be turned over, allowing a receivership to liquidate them for sale. The order is intended to prevent delays and ensure that Freeman and Moss’s judgment is satisfied. The judge noted in his ruling, “The Court finds that all of the items and interests listed…should be subject to turnover and receivership, in order to ensure that the liquidation of the transferred assets is accomplished quickly and consistently by the Plaintiffs’ chosen counsel, maximizing the sale value of the unique and intangible items and therefore increasing the likelihood of satisfaction of the Plaintiffs’ judgment.”
Included in the list of Giuliani’s assets are his Manhattan apartment, claims to $2 million in unpaid legal fees from the 2020 campaign, cash held in bank accounts, a 1980 Mercedes-Benz SL500, and various pieces of memorabilia. Among these items are autographed New York Yankees memorabilia, numerous pieces of jewelry, over two dozen luxury watches—including one from his late grandfather—and personal gifts from family. The judge has also set future hearings to determine whether Giuliani’s Palm Beach, Florida apartment and New York Yankees World Series rings, claimed by his son Andrew, must also be surrendered.
In response to the judge’s order, a spokesperson for Giuliani denounced the ruling as a political move. The spokesperson argued that Giuliani is being targeted unfairly by what he described as “partisan, political activists,” alleging that the court’s demands are intended to “bully and intimidate” him.
“This is not just about money. The court order forces the mayor to relinquish deeply personal belongings, including gifts from his children and close family friends,” Giuliani’s spokesperson commented, adding, “They are attempting to take everything from him.”
Giuliani’s defense team has pushed back against the judgment, claiming that his comments were part of his legal representation and protected speech rather than intentional defamation. His supporters argue that he acted within his rights to question the election process, especially in the context of representing a sitting president. However, the court’s ruling has concluded that his statements went beyond protected speech and amounted to defamation against the plaintiffs.
Freeman and Moss’s attorney has commended the judge’s order, expressing satisfaction that the former mayor will be held accountable. In a statement, their attorney remarked, “We are proud that our clients will finally begin to receive some of the compensation to which they are entitled for Giuliani’s actions. This outcome should send a powerful message that there is a price to pay for those who choose to intentionally spread disinformation.”
The legal team believes that the defamation ruling is an important precedent, establishing consequences for figures who propagate claims that can lead to personal and reputational harm. They assert that Giuliani’s statements incited widespread backlash and intimidation toward Freeman and Moss, and that the recent judgment underscores the risks of spreading unverified information about election officials.
While Giuliani’s legal team hopes that the appeal will eventually reverse the defamation ruling, the receivership will proceed in the meantime. Judge Liman’s order states that the assets listed must be turned over promptly, with future hearings scheduled to address any remaining property disputes, including Giuliani’s Florida apartment and his son’s claim to the World Series rings. This appeal process could potentially alter the outcome of the defamation case, but until a decision is made, the receivership will continue liquidating assets to satisfy the judgment.
This recent ruling highlights the intense scrutiny and legal consequences faced by those involved in the 2020 election aftermath, with Giuliani’s case being one of the most prominent. As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen whether the defamation judgment will stand or if his appeal will bring a reprieve.
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