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Jimmy Williams
A federal judge has ordered Rudy Giuliani, former attorney to Donald Trump, to turn over his Manhattan penthouse and several high-value possessions to Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. This ruling comes after Giuliani defamed the women with false claims of ballot tampering during the 2020 election.
The defamation lawsuit, which resulted in Giuliani owing Freeman and Moss a staggering $150 million, has now led to the transfer of Giuliani’s assets. The pair accused Giuliani of causing them “severe emotional distress and reputational damage” through baseless allegations, a federal jury ruled in their favor last December.
Judge Lewis Liman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that Giuliani has seven days to surrender his interest in his luxury Manhattan apartment to a receivership controlled by Freeman and Moss. The women will oversee the sale of the penthouse, which could be worth millions, as part of their efforts to recover the damages awarded to them.
In addition to the New York penthouse, Giuliani must turn over a collection of valuable items, including luxury watches, sports memorabilia, and a 1980 Mercedes once owned by Hollywood legend Lauren Bacall. Giuliani’s son has also claimed ownership of four New York Yankees World Series rings, which could be included in future proceedings.
Giuliani was found liable for defamation last year after repeatedly making false claims that Freeman and Moss tampered with ballots in Georgia during the 2020 presidential election. These claims put their safety in jeopardy, prompting the lawsuit. In their case, the women cited emotional distress and reputational harm caused by the former New York City mayor’s allegations.
“This is just another frivolous lawsuit,” a Trump campaign spokesperson said in response to the judgment, reflecting the ongoing legal battles surrounding Trump and his allies in the aftermath of the 2020 election.
Freeman and Moss have been seeking to collect the nearly $150 million since the ruling. Judge Liman’s order also entitles the two women to about $2 million in legal fees that Giuliani claims the Trump campaign still owes him.
The defamation case marks another significant setback for Giuliani, whose law license has already been suspended due to his involvement in promoting false election claims. As the legal consequences of his role in Trump’s election subversion efforts continue to mount, Giuliani’s assets and finances have been placed under intense scrutiny.
A hearing is scheduled next week to determine if Giuliani will also have to surrender his Florida property or if the Yankees World Series rings claimed by his son will be exempt from seizure.
