A Manhattan federal judge has ordered former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to report to court on Thursday following allegations he’s hiding assets from two Georgia poll workers attempting to collect on their $148 million defamation judgment.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher attorney Aaron Nathan on Monday told U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman of the Southern District of New York that Giuliani emptied his Manhattan apartment weeks ago and is refusing to disclose the location of assets subject to a receivership order.
Nathan is representing Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss. Liman last month ordered that Giuliani immediately hand over control of his nearly $6 million Manhattan apartment to the women and placed other assets in receivership.
Liman set a deadline of last week for the former U.S. Attorney of the SDNY to turn over his property. Yet nothing was produced, Nathan writes.
When plaintiff’s counsel arrived at the midtown penthouse to evaluable contents for transportation and storage, they found the residence “substantially empty,” claims the letter to Liman—despite the items being subject to a restraining notice.
“Save for some rugs, a dining room table, some stray pieces of small furniture and inexpensive wall art, and a handful of smaller items like dishes and stereo equipment, the Apartment has been emptied of all of its contents,” he wrote.
The “vast majority” of items Giuliani had been ordered to surrender—including art, sports memorabilia, and pricey furniture that were known to be stored there were missing, the filing states.
Counsel later learned the items were moved “weeks ago,” plaintiff’s allege. Giuliani is also now claiming he does not know where the co-op share certificates or the proprietary lease are for the apartment
“More concerning, Defendant’s counsel has so far been unable to state where that property, or a large majority of the other receivership property, is,” asserts the filing.
Giuliani’s counsel has represented that some unspecified items are being held at the “America First Warehouse” in Ronkonkoma, New York, but plaintiffs say they have been unable to gain access.
Nathan noted that Giuliani’s counsel also represented that certain property was in Florida— including a Mercedes Benz once owned by Lauren Bacall and dozens of watches—but has not specified the exact location of the vehicle or the precise watches.
After Liman ordered his client to appear in court in person midday on Thursday, defense attorney Kenneth Caruso on Tuesday asked that the appearance be adjourned or reverted to a telephone conference, as his client has a “contractual commitment.”
The now-twice disbarred and indicted Giuliani has a live radio broadcast Thursday evening, Caruso said, and Giuliani’s broadcasting equipment remains in Florida.
“We note that broadcasts, such as those described above, currently provide Mr. Giuliani’s only source of earned income,” Caruso wrote “We respectfully suggest that a loss of income, and an expense for travel to New York, should be avoided, if possible.”
Caruso did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Giuliani’s spokesperson, Ted Goodman, said in a statement that plaintiffs had “weaponized our once-sacred justice system.”
“Opposing counsel, acting either negligently or deliberately in a deceptive manner, are simply attempting to further bully and intimidate Mayor Giuliani until he is rendered penniless and homeless,” stated Goodman.
Liman denied the request hours later, ruling “no good cause had been provided.”
A jury last year found Giuliani liable for defamation and delivered a $148 million verdict against him, after he falsely claimed Freeman and Moss had committed ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential election.
This is not the first time Giuliani, 80, has been accused of being opaque about his assets.
Giuliani filed for bankruptcy protection last year days after the defamation verdict.
Yet a judge dismissed the case, citing his lack of transparency surrounding his financial situation.