Lawyers allowed into Rudy Giuliani’s New York apartment after he misses deadline to hand over assets

Access to a representative of the moving company and lawyers was expected Rudy Giuliani on Thursday in a Manhattan apartment after the former New York mayor failed to hand over items to two former Georgia election workers who won $148 million verdict for defamation against him.

Both sides pressed charges against each other this week as Giuliani’s deadline for handing over the items passed Tuesday and no assets have changed hands.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman – Giuliani ordered last week he gave election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, many of his prized possessions. Among them: his $5 million Upper East Side apartment, a 1980 Mercedes once owned by movie star Lauren Bacall, and an array of other possessions, from a television to a jersey autographed by New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio and 26 luxury watches.

According to a court document filed late Wednesday by attorney Aaron Nathan, a representative of the moving company and attorneys for Freeman and Moss were allegedly allowed into Giuliani’s apartment to check what property was there and estimate the costs of moving the items listed in Liman’s order. for election workers.

In the document, Nathan said he spoke with Giuliani’s lawyers, but they were not willing to hand over any items and could not “even answer basic questions” about the location of the assets.

Giuliani’s attorney, Kenneth Caruso, said in a court filing Tuesday that his client was willing to donate the assets, but attorneys for Freeman and Moss did not provide instructions on how to do so.

Nathan declined to comment Thursday. The Associated Press released phone and email messages to Giuliani’s representative and lawyers on Thursday.

While voting in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday afternoon, Giuliani did not confirm that anyone was in his New York apartment. He said he didn’t have a chance to defend himself in the Georgia election workers case and believes the conviction will be overturned on appeal.

“This will probably be one of the most unfair trials in American history, except for the people of J6,” he said, referring to the criminal cases brought against Trump supporters who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

In fact, Giuliani had a chance to give Freeman and Moss information last year that lawyers asked for, but he didn’t. Separate judge for punishment found Giuliani responsible for defamation before any trial commences. Later, a hearing was held to determine the amount of compensation.

On Thursday, Liman ordered both parties to submit a report on the status of possible real estate exchanges by Monday. He said he would hold a status conference on November 7 if the assets were not transferred.

Giuliani’s legal defense fund sent out emails Thursday asking for donations to fight the “Deep State plans to completely ruin me.”

“They want my house, my stuff, and even all the nostalgic memorabilia I have collected over my 80 years of life,” the email said.

Giuliani’s lawyers argued that Freeman and Moss should not be allowed to buy and sell his belongings pending the outcome of his appeal against the $148 million verdict. But last week, Liman ruled against him and set a Tuesday deadline. Giuliani’s appeal is currently pending in a federal appeals court in Washington.

Giuliani’s spokesman, Ted Goodman, said in a recent statement that “Mayor Giuliani is being unfairly punished by partisans and political activists who are trying to make an example of him.”

There is also an ongoing lawsuit over whether Giuliani should be forced to hand over his $3 million Palm Beach, Florida, apartment – which he claims is his primary residence – and several Yankees World Series rings he received while mayor .

Pressing Donald Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, Giuliani falsely accused Freeman and Moss of ballot fraud, claiming they smuggled ballots in suitcases, repeatedly counted them and tampered with voting machines.

Freeman and Moss filed a defamation lawsuit and stated that the false accusations led to death threats, which made them fear for their lives. Last year, a Washington jury awarded them $148 million.

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Associated Press writer Stephany Matat in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.