A New York judge ruled Monday that Rudy Giuliani is in contempt of court for failing to comply with asset-related orders in a $148 million defamation case. The former New York City mayor's failure to properly disclose assets, following a 2023 judgment against him, prompted the contempt finding.
Judge Lewis J. Liman's ruling stems from Giuliani's alleged non-compliance with evidence production requests. Giuliani testified for two days, initially in person and later remotely from Florida. He conceded that certain requests were incomplete, citing overly broad demands and concerns about the requests being "traps."
Challenges in complying with asset disclosure, attributed to numerous other legal proceedings, were also raised by Giuliani. He asserted that the disclosure demands impeded his ability to function effectively in legal matters, estimating that these impediments occurred approximately 30-40% of the time.
Despite turning over certain assets, including a Mercedes-Benz and a New York apartment, Giuliani's failure to produce supporting documentation, along with other items (watches, sports memorabilia) and financial records, has drawn criticism from the plaintiffs' lawyers.
Giuliani's lawyers argue that reaching specific conclusions regarding the assets, without a trial on the merits, would amount to a "civil death penalty." The trial to determine the disposition of the Palm Beach condominium is scheduled for mid-January.
The plaintiffs' lawyers argued that Giuliani's actions constitute a consistent pattern of defiance. The dispute centers on whether the Florida property is a primary residence, which would potentially shield it from seizure. Giuliani maintains the property's residential status, while his lawyers anticipate an appeal process to secure custody of the disputed items.
