As legal walls close in, Giuliani rants at judge
“I don’t have a car. I don’t have a credit card,” the former New York City mayor said.
By Erica Orden
Rudy Giuliani lashed out in court Tuesday at the federal judge who ordered him to turn over his belongings to the two Georgia women who won a $148 million defamation verdict against him, telling the judge “every implication you make is against me.”
“I don’t have a car. I don’t have a credit card,” Giuliani told U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman, raising his voice from the defense table during a hearing. “They have put a stop order on, for example, my Social Security account,” he said of the women, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
Cutting off Giuliani’s outburst, Liman threatened the former New York City mayor. “I permitted Mr. Giuliani to speak. Next time, I will not permit him to speak and the court will have to take action,” he said. As the judge admonished him, Giuliani banged lightly on the table with a pen, shaking his head.
Liman previously threatened to hold GIuliani in contempt after he missed a court-imposed deadline to turn over assets to the women.
Giuliani’s eruption Tuesday came after Liman — who described Giuliani as a “competent person,” noting that he was previously the Manhattan U.S. Attorney — questioned why Giuliani hadn’t yet handed over the title to a vintage Mercedes-Benz convertible that he was ordered to surrender to Freeman and Moss. Giuliani turned over the car, watches and a ring to the women earlier this month and is in the process of turning over his New York City apartment.
Freeman and Moss won the verdict last year after Giuliani falsely accused them of committing election fraud in the 2020 election.
Earlier in the proceeding, Liman refused Giuliani’s request to delay the date of a trial, set to begin Jan. 16, over whether Giuliani has tried to shield his Palm Beach condo from creditors by falsely claiming it as his “homestead.” Giuliani asked for the delay in order to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
Giuliani’s lawyer Joseph Cammarata had argued that Giuliani “regularly consults” with Trump and “wants to exercise his political right to be there.”
In denying the request, Liman noted that “defendant’s social calendar does not constitute good cause” to delay the trial date.
Giuliani’s latest clash in court came as Freeman and Moss have also asked a different federal judge to hold him in contempt for repeating false claims like those that led to the defamation judgment against him. That judge, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, has ordered Giuliani to come to court for a hearing over the contempt motion on Dec. 12.
Speaking to reporters in the hallway outside the courtroom on Tuesday, Giuliani continued his tirade about Liman, calling him an “activist Democrat.”
Liman is a Trump appointee.
“Have you figured out what side he’s on? Are you too dumb to see what side he’s on?” Giuliani asked. “I’ve been a lawyer for 55 years. I can figure out what side he’s on.”
“He doesn’t give a damn about the truth,” he continued. “He just gives a damn about being popular.”
After stepping into an elevator, Giuliani could be heard shouting, “this is lawfare with capital letters.”
“I don’t have a car. I don’t have a credit card,” the former New York City mayor said.
By Erica Orden
Rudy Giuliani lashed out in court Tuesday at the federal judge who ordered him to turn over his belongings to the two Georgia women who won a $148 million defamation verdict against him, telling the judge “every implication you make is against me.”
“I don’t have a car. I don’t have a credit card,” Giuliani told U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman, raising his voice from the defense table during a hearing. “They have put a stop order on, for example, my Social Security account,” he said of the women, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
Cutting off Giuliani’s outburst, Liman threatened the former New York City mayor. “I permitted Mr. Giuliani to speak. Next time, I will not permit him to speak and the court will have to take action,” he said. As the judge admonished him, Giuliani banged lightly on the table with a pen, shaking his head.
Liman previously threatened to hold GIuliani in contempt after he missed a court-imposed deadline to turn over assets to the women.
Giuliani’s eruption Tuesday came after Liman — who described Giuliani as a “competent person,” noting that he was previously the Manhattan U.S. Attorney — questioned why Giuliani hadn’t yet handed over the title to a vintage Mercedes-Benz convertible that he was ordered to surrender to Freeman and Moss. Giuliani turned over the car, watches and a ring to the women earlier this month and is in the process of turning over his New York City apartment.
Freeman and Moss won the verdict last year after Giuliani falsely accused them of committing election fraud in the 2020 election.
Earlier in the proceeding, Liman refused Giuliani’s request to delay the date of a trial, set to begin Jan. 16, over whether Giuliani has tried to shield his Palm Beach condo from creditors by falsely claiming it as his “homestead.” Giuliani asked for the delay in order to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
Giuliani’s lawyer Joseph Cammarata had argued that Giuliani “regularly consults” with Trump and “wants to exercise his political right to be there.”
In denying the request, Liman noted that “defendant’s social calendar does not constitute good cause” to delay the trial date.
Giuliani’s latest clash in court came as Freeman and Moss have also asked a different federal judge to hold him in contempt for repeating false claims like those that led to the defamation judgment against him. That judge, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, has ordered Giuliani to come to court for a hearing over the contempt motion on Dec. 12.
Speaking to reporters in the hallway outside the courtroom on Tuesday, Giuliani continued his tirade about Liman, calling him an “activist Democrat.”
Liman is a Trump appointee.
“Have you figured out what side he’s on? Are you too dumb to see what side he’s on?” Giuliani asked. “I’ve been a lawyer for 55 years. I can figure out what side he’s on.”
“He doesn’t give a damn about the truth,” he continued. “He just gives a damn about being popular.”
After stepping into an elevator, Giuliani could be heard shouting, “this is lawfare with capital letters.”
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