Chaos erupted in a Manhattan courtroom when former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani angrily confronted the judge over defamation payments to two Georgia election workers.
Last month, Manhattan Judge Lewis Liman ruled that Giuliani must surrender his Manhattan apartment and several personal luxury items to settle nearly $150 million in defamation claims filed by Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss, whom Giuliani was found to have defamed following the 2020 election.
The tension escalated when Liman questioned why Giuliani had not yet provided the title certificate for his 1980 Mercedes convertible, which Giuliani had not turned over despite handing over the car and keys. Giuliani lashed out, accusing the judge of unfairly targeting him, and denied claims that he was unable to secure the title certificate. He also rejected suggestions that he was “crying poverty,” insisting he was not impoverished but that all his assets were tied up.
Judge Liman responded sharply, warning that any further interruptions would lead to official action, including the possibility of Giuliani representing himself. The judge also criticized Giuliani’s attorney for suggesting that the former mayor was too incompetent to obtain the necessary documentation for the car.
Giuliani’s legal team had hoped to resolve the case before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, but Liman made it clear that the case wouldn’t be rushed based on Giuliani’s schedule.
In December, a federal jury ordered Giuliani to pay almost $150 million in damages for defaming Freeman and Moss, including substantial amounts for emotional distress and punitive damages.
Last month, Giuliani was ordered to surrender his Manhattan penthouse, valuable gifts, including watches from European presidents, a signed Joe DiMaggio jersey, a vintage car once owned by Lauren Bacall, and other memorabilia. The judge is still determining whether Giuliani will also have to give up his Palm Beach condominium and his New York Yankees World Series rings. Giuliani’s net worth in 2023 was estimated to be under $50 million.
