Rudy Giuliani has been ordered by a judge to appear in a New York courtroom on Thursday to explain why he missed a court deadline to surrender his belongings following a $148 million defamation judgment. U.S.
District Judge Lewis Liman issued the order late Monday after lawyers for Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea "Shaye" Moss, reported to the court that they went to Giuliani's Manhattan apartment last week to see what assets were there, but that it had been cleared out . The two former election workers sued Giuliani for defamation after he publicly accused them of ballot tampering during the 2020 election, a claim later determined to be false, leading to a $148 million judgment against him. Freeman and Moss reported that Giuliani's statements spurred death threats against them, significantly impacting their personal security and livelihood.
Vintage Mercedes and Luxury Watches Liman had set an October 29 deadline for Giuliani to transfer assets including a $5 million Upper East Side apartment , a vintage Mercedes once owned by Lauren Bacall , and various personal items like a signed Joe DiMaggio shirt and luxury watches. None of these possessions has yet been handed over, according to attorneys for Freeman and Moss. Giuliani left only dishes, rugs and "inexpensive" art as he stripped his $6 million apartment, Attorney Aaron Nathan said.
Originally set as a phone conference, the judge changed the hearing to an in-person session, and ordered Giuliani to be present followi.