Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, facing a high-stakes legal fight, has accused the federal government and court officials of seeking to financially ruin him over a $148 million defamation judgment awarded to two Georgia election workers. The judgment stems from his false accusations that the workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea "Shaye" Moss, tampered with ballots in the 2020 presidential election-a claim thoroughly debunked in court.
In a post on social media platform X, Giuliani expressed his financial struggles, claiming his resources have been drained. "Wilkie Farr Law firm and Judge Liman are trying to inhibit me from making a living. They seized my measly checking account so I can't buy food. Help me fight," he wrote. The plea for public donations to the Rudy Giuliani Freedom Fund-a fundraiser initiated by former Oklahoma Senate candidate Jackson Lahmeyer-has so far raised over $96,100 of its $100,000 goal.
Giuliani's financial woes have deepened in recent weeks. During a Thursday hearing at a Manhattan federal court, Judge Lewis Liman chastised the former mayor for his attempts to obscure details of his assets. Giuliani had sought to remove his name from a document listing his possessions, including a blue 1980 Mercedes SL500 convertible once owned by actress Lauren Bacall. Judge Liman expressed exasperation, stating, "The notion that your client doesn't have any notion of where his assets are is farcical. If necessary, I will have you take the stand and testify under oath."
The court ruling requires Giuliani to surrender various personal assets, including his three-bedroom Upper East Side apartment and memorabilia, as part of the judgment. Thus far, he has not complied, claiming ambiguity in the court's orders. "This case is obviously a political vendetta," Giuliani told reporters outside the Manhattan courthouse. "I'm very, very disappointed that this judge doesn't take seriously how ridiculous the judgment is."
The defamation case traces back to Freeman and Moss's lawsuit against Giuliani, alleging that his baseless accusations incited threats and harassment by Trump supporters. The women testified about their experiences, describing "terrifying" mobs that showed up at Freeman's home after Giuliani's claims. In December, the court awarded them $150 million in damages. Giuliani's legal team has since appealed the verdict, expressing confidence in a potential reversal by the District of Columbia Circuit.
Adding to the controversy, Giuliani was spotted in Palm Beach, Florida, on Election Day, riding as a passenger in a vintage Mercedes resembling a vehicle listed in the court's forfeiture order. The appearance was perceived by critics as a defiant act, given the directive to relinquish the car. Giuliani maintains that he has done nothing wrong and has accused the judiciary of prematurely seizing his assets. "Most judges would rather just take all of a man's property away," he remarked.
The judgment against Giuliani intensifies his legal and financial challenges. While his supporters argue that the court's actions are punitive, his critics contend that he must be held accountable for spreading falsehoods that endangered lives. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also weighed in, labeling the situation as an example of political bias within federal agencies. "The blatant weaponization of government by partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy is yet another reason why the Biden-Harris administration is in its final days," DeSantis posted on X.
