Judge Orders Rudy Giuliani to Turn Over NY Apartment, Car, and Other Assets to Pay Defamation Victims

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In a major legal blow, former New York City Mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani has been ordered to relinquish a long list of valuable assets as part of a $150 million defamation judgment. A federal judge ruled that Giuliani must hand over properties, including his Manhattan apartment, luxury vehicles, and priceless memorabilia, to Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, two Georgia election workers who successfully sued Giuliani for defamation after the 2020 election.

Luxury Assets at Stake

Judge Lewis Liman, who issued the order, detailed an extensive inventory of Giuliani’s assets that must be turned over to Freeman and Moss. Among these are his Upper East Side apartment, valued at $5.7 million, a 1980 Mercedes-Benz once owned by actress Lauren Bacall, and a collection of 26 watches, some of which hold deep sentimental value for Giuliani. The court also noted that Giuliani refused to pay any of the defamation judgment so far, prompting this forceful legal action.

Freeman and Moss accused Giuliani of spreading false claims that they had tampered with ballots in Fulton County, Georgia, during the 2020 presidential election. These lies fueled harassment against the women, leading them to sue Giuliani for defamation and emotional distress. After a lengthy legal battle, a jury awarded the women over $148 million in damages last December.

Giuliani's Legal Struggles and Bankruptcy

Giuliani’s financial troubles have only compounded since the defamation ruling. He filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to protect himself from financial ruin, but a federal judge dismissed his case in July 2024 due to his uncooperative behavior. Despite the ongoing appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Giuliani’s assets have been made subject to immediate seizure.

The former mayor's collectibles, which include signed items from baseball legends Joe DiMaggio and Reggie Jackson, are part of the assets that Freeman and Moss can now sell to recover their damages. Giuliani’s lawyers had requested leniency in protecting certain sentimental items, such as his grandfather’s watch, but Judge Liman ruled that unless Giuliani could prove its value to be below $1,000, the watch must also be surrendered.

Political and Legal Fallout

The ruling is yet another devastating chapter in Giuliani’s post-2020 election downfall. His efforts to overturn the election results, which involved spreading false claims about widespread voter fraud, have left him facing multiple legal challenges across the country. His law licenses in both New York and Washington, D.C., were revoked due to his misconduct, and he faces criminal trials related to election interference in Arizona and Georgia.

The financial implications of the defamation case are substantial, as Giuliani’s current assets are estimated at around $10 million—well below the judgment amount. In addition to the property seizures, Freeman and Moss are pursuing $2 million Giuliani claims he is owed by the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee. Giuliani had sought to delay the turnover of these unpaid legal fees until after the 2024 election, but Judge Liman dismissed that request.

Next Target: Giuliani’s Palm Beach Condo 

Giuliani’s Palm Beach condo, another valuable asset, is still the subject of legal wrangling. A court hearing scheduled for October 28 will determine whether it can be seized. Giuliani has attempted to protect the property by declaring it his primary residence under Florida’s homestead exemption laws, but Freeman and Moss are challenging that claim.

Giuliani now faces the possibility of being held in contempt of court if he fails to comply with the seven-day deadline for asset turnover. His appeal of the $148 million judgment remains ongoing, but legal experts believe it is unlikely to be overturned. Even if the appeal is successful, Freeman and Moss are unlikely to return the seized assets unless the judgment is significantly reduced.

How the Mighty Have Fallen

Once celebrated as “America’s Mayor” for his leadership following the 9/11 attacks, Rudy Giuliani’s reputation has taken a dramatic fall. His role as Donald Trump’s personal lawyer during the 2020 election has placed him at the center of numerous legal controversies. In addition to the defamation case, Giuliani faces several other lawsuits and investigations related to his election interference efforts.

This latest ruling not only diminishes his financial standing but also further tarnishes his legacy. Giuliani’s inability to escape accountability in the defamation case underscores the seriousness of his false accusations against Freeman and Moss, which had severe real-world consequences for the two election workers.

Do you believe Rudy Giuliani is guilty of defaming the Georgia election workers? Let us know what you think.

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