Former NYC Mayor Faces Sanctions Over Evidence Noncompliance
Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and personal attorney to Donald Trump, was held in contempt of court on Monday for failing to comply with evidence requests in a $148 million defamation case. The case was brought by two Georgia election workers who accused Giuliani of spreading false claims about their involvement in tampering with the 2020 presidential election ballots.
Federal Judge Lewis J. Liman issued the contempt ruling during a hearing in Manhattan, citing Giuliani’s repeated failure to provide complete information about his assets and evidence requested by the plaintiffs.
Judge: Giuliani “Willfully Violated” Court Orders
Judge Liman accused Giuliani of deliberately ignoring a December 20 deadline to turn over documents. This evidence is critical to a January trial that will determine whether Giuliani’s Palm Beach condominium is a primary residence or a vacation property subject to forfeiture.
“Giuliani willfully violated a clear and unambiguous order of this court,” Liman stated, emphasizing that Giuliani’s delays and limited cooperation obstructed the judicial process. The judge excluded Giuliani from offering certain evidence at trial and indicated he could infer negative conclusions from the missing materials.
Limited Asset Disclosure
Giuliani has surrendered some assets, including a Mercedes-Benz and a New York apartment, but the plaintiffs claim he has failed to turn over necessary paperwork to monetize them. Items such as luxury watches, sports memorabilia, and nonexempt cash accounts remain unaccounted for.
Among the disputed items is a Joe DiMaggio jersey, which Giuliani claimed on Monday he could not locate.
Giuliani’s Defense: Overburdened and Distrusting
Giuliani testified remotely from his Palm Beach home after an initial in-person appearance in Manhattan. He claimed he did not fully comply with evidence requests because they were overly broad or seemed like “traps” set by the plaintiffs’ lawyers.
He described the demands as overwhelming, stating they rendered him unable to function effectively 30-40% of the time due to numerous legal battles.
Judge Liman dismissed these claims, labeling one as “preposterous” and stating that distrust of opposing counsel was no excuse for failing to follow court orders.
Election Workers’ Lawyers Cite Defiance
The election workers’ legal team has accused Giuliani of a “consistent pattern of willful defiance.” In October, Giuliani was ordered to surrender assets after being found liable for defamation in 2023.
Despite this, the plaintiffs argue, Giuliani has delayed compliance, turning over only select items while withholding others, including World Series rings and cash from nonexempt accounts.
