A federal judge has mandated that Rudy Giuliani, former attorney for Donald Trump and ex-New York mayor, relinquish his valuable assets, including his Manhattan penthouse, to Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, the Georgia election workers he defamed. Giuliani owes the women $150 million due to his defamatory statements about them.
Judge Lewis Liman of the federal court in Manhattan has given Giuliani seven days to transfer his interest in the properties to a receivership that will be managed by Freeman and Moss. While the process for transferring the luxury items is straightforward, the penthouse will be under their control, allowing them to sell it, potentially for millions.
Freeman and Moss, who counted ballots in Georgia during the 2020 election, will also be entitled to approximately $2 million in legal fees that Giuliani claims the Trump campaign owes him, as per the judge’s ruling.
In addition to the Trump campaign fees and the New York apartment, Giuliani is required to turn over a collection of watches, including those gifted to him by European leaders after the September 11 attacks, a signed Joe DiMaggio jersey, various sports memorabilia, and a 1980 Mercedes previously owned by actress Lauren Bacall. The judge also ordered the return of Giuliani’s television, furniture, and jewelry.
Judge Liman has yet to decide whether Giuliani can keep his condominium in Palm Beach, Florida, or his four New York Yankees World Series rings, which his son claims he gifted to him.
Michael Gottlieb, representing Freeman and Moss, stated that the judge’s ruling is a vital step for their clients to begin recovering from the damage they suffered. He emphasized that this ruling exemplifies how the justice system holds powerful individuals accountable for their wrongdoings.
Giuliani’s representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The court utilized a receivership to facilitate the transfer of Giuliani’s New York property to the women due to the special nature of the assets, which aids in collaborating with auction houses and brokers to maximize sale value.
The defamation case against Giuliani highlights the consequences faced by lawyers who supported Trump’s alleged election fraud schemes, as legal actions against Trump and his associates proceed slowly. Giuliani, who previously served as U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, has lost his law license and is subject to ongoing disciplinary proceedings, while right-wing media outlets have settled lawsuits concerning other election conspiracy claims.
Last December, a federal jury ordered Giuliani to pay nearly $150 million for his false claims about Freeman and Moss, who have been working to collect the owed amount. This includes $16,171,000 to Freeman for defamation, $16,998,000 to Moss, $20 million to each for emotional distress, and $75 million in punitive damages.
Giuliani was found liable for defamation last year after not responding to portions of the lawsuit from Freeman and Moss, who argued that they faced emotional harm and threats to their safety due to his false allegations of ballot tampering. A hearing regarding the Florida property is scheduled for next Monday.