US
Rudy Giuliani ordered to turn over luxury goods to election workers he defamed
Donald Trump’s former attorney Rudy Giuliani has been ordered to hand over a list of valuable possessions, including his New York penthouse, by a federal judge.
Judge Lewis Liman, of the federal court in Manhattan, ordered the former New York mayor to turn over the goods to two Georgia election workers he defamed and owes about $150m (£115m).
He has seven days to turn over the penthouse – which is reported to be valued at $5.7m (£4.4m) – to a receivership that Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss will control, meaning they can sell it, Sky News’ US partner network NBC reported.
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Giuliani was ordered to pay damages to the two election workers after he falsely accused them of fraud following Mr Trump’s presidential election loss in 2020.
Both Ms Moss and Ms Freeman described in testimonies at the time that they had received racist and sexist messages, including threats of lynching, due to the claims.
On Tuesday, Judge Liman also ordered Giuliani to turn over:
• Any fees for services to Donald Trump and the Republican Party in 2020 and 2021 – reported to amount to about £2m;
• Cash held in personal bank accounts;
• A vintage Mercedes-Benz;
• Various items of furniture;
• A television;
• Various items of sports memorabilia;
• Jewellery and a diamond ring;
• 26 watches.
The judge is yet to decide if Giuliani will be able to keep a condominium in Palm Beach, Florida and three other items of sports memorabilia.
Giuliani filed for bankruptcy days after the defamation ruling in December last year. But a judge threw out the case in July this year, criticising the lawyer for repeated “uncooperative conduct,” self-dealing, and a lack of transparency.
This allowed creditors to pursue other means to get some of the money Ms Moss and Ms Freeman are owed, such as getting a court order to seize his apartments and other assets.
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The mother-daughter pair are owed about $73m (£57m) for reputational damage and emotional harm, with another $75m (£59m) owed as punishment.
A lawyer for Ms Moss and Ms Freman praised Judge Liman’s ruling.
“We are proud that our clients will finally begin to receive some of the compensation to which they are entitled for Giuliani’s actions,” they told NBC.
“[The] outcome should send a powerful message that there is a price to pay for those who choose to intentionally spread disinformation.”
Lawyers representing Giuliani did not respond to NBC when contacted for comment.