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| Rudy Giuliani sits in a Mercedes-Benz convertible as he speaks to the media outside a polling location in Palm Beach, Fla., on Nov. 5. |
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is scheduled to appear in court on Friday for a hearing in New York to determine whether he should be held in contempt of court. Giuliani, a longtime ally of President-elect Donald Trump, had sought to avoid attending at the last minute.
Giuliani’s attorney submitted a letter to the judge on Thursday requesting that he be allowed to appear remotely due to medical issues, specifically left knee problems and breathing difficulties linked to lung issues that developed after his time at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 attacks.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman expressed skepticism about the request, pointing out that Giuliani did not claim he was unable to travel, did not provide medical evidence, and failed to follow the proper procedures for making such a request.
Liman noted that Giuliani had not given a valid reason for why he should be allowed to appear remotely for a hearing where his credibility was in question and where the plaintiffs sought the opportunity to cross-examine him in person. While the judge did not order Giuliani to attend, he warned that if Giuliani did not appear, he would not be permitted to use his sworn declarations or deposition transcript as part of his defense.
Giuliani’s attorney, Joseph Cammarata, told NBC News that his client would attend the hearing.
The legal team representing former Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss is seeking to have Giuliani held in contempt for failing to comply with court orders requiring him to turn over assets to help satisfy their $146 million defamation judgment. They filed a motion asking the judge to impose “appropriate sanctions,” which could range from fines to jail time.
Giuliani, who is expected to testify, maintains that he has complied with the orders. He stated in a declaration last month that he had given all he could. However, Freeman and Moss argue that he has not provided many assets, including a signed baseball jersey from the late New York Yankees Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio.
Giuliani claimed that he could not locate the jersey, though he thought it had been in his New York City apartment, which Freeman and Moss’ attorneys had searched. They dispute this claim, citing a deposition from Monsignor Alan Placa, one of Giuliani's oldest friends. Placa testified that he had seen the signed DiMaggio jersey in the past two years, including in Florida, contrary to Giuliani's assertion that it was lost.
The controversy over the jersey is just one part of the broader dispute. Freeman and Moss’ attorneys argue that Giuliani has consistently ignored court orders to turn over other assets, including a Mercedes-Benz convertible, documents related to his Manhattan co-op, and several luxury watches, including one that he claims belonged to his grandfather. Giuliani has refused to surrender the grandfather’s watch, claiming it is an heirloom, and he also denies having a signed photo of Reggie Jackson, despite evidence to the contrary.
Giuliani’s attorney acknowledged in a court filing that the former mayor had not delivered the necessary documents related to his Manhattan apartment. However, the attorney also stated that Giuliani had not attempted to retrieve them from a box in Florida that contains “sensitive” and “important” papers.
This contempt proceeding is one of two legal challenges Giuliani faces in connection with Freeman and Moss. Another hearing is set for January 10 in Washington, D.C., where a federal judge will consider whether Giuliani should face sanctions for continuing to defame Freeman and Moss on his streaming show, in violation of a court order.
Giuliani maintains that his comments on his show are protected by the First Amendment and that he has a right to discuss the case and his defense.
The contempt proceedings come after a jury in 2023 found Giuliani liable for defaming Freeman and Moss. Giuliani’s claims about them, made in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, led to their harassment, job loss, and threats. They were awarded $148 million in damages, later reduced to $146 million. Giuliani is appealing the verdict.
In addition to these civil suits, Giuliani has been disbarred in both New York and Washington, D.C., and faces criminal charges in two states related to his actions in attempting to overturn the 2020 election. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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