A Manhattan judge has held Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court for violating a deadline for submitting evidence in a defamation verdict that ordered him to pay $148 million to two Georgia election officials.
Judge Louis Lehman ruled that the disbarred lawyer who was once touted as “America's Mayor” was the attorney for Georgia election official Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea “Shay” Moss, the lawyer in the Giuliani case. ) found that he had failed to provide a “complete answer” about his financial situation and medical history to his lawyer in a timely manner. In 2023, the two were found liable for defamation after falsely claiming they tried to steal the 2020 election from Trump.
“Defendant intentionally violated the court's express orders,” Lehman said while reading the verdict in a Manhattan federal courtroom.
The ruling comes ahead of a Jan. 16 trial over Giuliani's decision to host the Yankees World Series and hand over his Florida home to pay off debts owed to women.
It also comes months after Mr. Giuliani's former lawyers accused the former New York mayor of refusing to share records and access his cell phone and explain why they are no longer representing Mr. Giuliani.
It is not yet clear what punishment Giuliani, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, will face.
This is a developing story. Please check back for the latest information.
