In a heated exchange during a courtroom session in New York, Rudy Giuliani expressed his frustration towards a judge, asserting that the court had formed incorrect assumptions about his situation as he attempts to comply with an order to surrender most of his assets. This ruling follows a successful libel case brought against him by two election poll workers.
U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman calmly instructed Giuliani that he would have to refrain from making statements unless he was a sworn witness. The tension arose during a routine pretrial hearing in Manhattan when the judge inquired about the delay in Giuliani providing the title for a car he had given up in his compliance efforts with a hefty $148 million defamation judgement awarded to the former Georgia election workers.
The judge highlighted Giuliani’s previous experience as the U.S. attorney for the district, which occurred during the 1980s, suggesting it was hard to believe he couldn’t acquire a duplicate title for the vehicle. Giuliani leaned in and began speaking into the microphone, asserting that he had indeed applied for a duplicate title, but it had not been processed yet.
“I’m being accused of negligence, and that is utterly incorrect,” a frustrated Giuliani stated. “Every implication against me is unjust.” He further clarified his financial status, explaining that while he is not bankrupt, all his assets are entangled in restrictions. He lamented his lack of basic financial resources, including not having a car, credit cards, or access to bank accounts due to various hold orders placed against him, including on his Social Security account.
Judge Liman cautioned the defense attorneys that if Giuliani interrupted the court again, he would not allow him to speak further, emphasizing that the court could take necessary actions in such instances. He noted that Giuliani had the option to either represent himself or allow his lawyers to do so, but emphasized that he could not combine both forms of representation. If Giuliani desires to make future statements in the courtroom, he would need to be sworn in as a witness.
This exchange transpired during a hearing where the judge declined to postpone a trial set for January 16 related to Giuliani’s properties, specifically his Florida home and World Series championship rings. These assets are under scrutiny as Giuliani attempts to protect them from being seized in compliance with the judge’s order to relinquish various prized possessions to the poll workers.
Earlier in the hearing, defense attorney Joseph M. Cammarata requested a delay of one month for the trial due to Giuliani’s involvement in the inauguration planning for President-elect Donald Trump. He noted that Giuliani frequently communicates with Trump on pertinent matters regarding the incoming administration and wishes to preserve his political rights during this time.
The judge swiftly rejected the request, articulating that Giuliani’s obligations related to social events did not constitute valid grounds for a trial postponement. Giuliani, previously an attorney for Trump, was found liable last year for making defamatory remarks against two Georgia poll workers, who reported experiencing threats to their safety following his unfounded allegations of electoral misconduct involving ballot tampering during the 2020 election.