Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been ordered by a federal judge to surrender his assets, totaling $14.8 million, to two election workers from Georgia. The ruling, delivered by Judge Lewis Liman on October 22, mandates that Giuliani transfer various items, including his Manhattan apartment, 26 luxury watches, a 1980 Mercedes-Benz, and valuable sports memorabilia, within seven days.
This directive follows Giuliani’s loss in a defamation lawsuit last December, where he was found liable for falsely accusing Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss of committing ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential election.
While Giuliani is required to relinquish many of his assets, Judge Liman noted that he does not have to turn over his three World Series championship rings from the New York Yankees or his Florida property, as these items are linked to other legal matters.
Freeman and Moss, who are mother and daughter, successfully won the defamation suit against Giuliani but have yet to receive any compensation. In July, the judge rejected Giuliani’s bankruptcy filing, citing his repeated noncompliance with court orders, including failing to disclose his sources of income.
The list of assets ordered for transfer includes Giuliani’s Manhattan apartment, valued at over $5 million, an alleged $2 million in unpaid fees he claims are owed by former President Donald Trump, a 1980 Mercedes-Benz S500 that once belonged to actress Lauren Bacall, and signed memorabilia from Yankees legends Joe DiMaggio and Reggie Jackson, along with jewelry and watches.
Court documents estimate the Mercedes at around $25,000, while the total value of the watches, championship rings, and jewelry is approximately $30,000. Giuliani’s request to retain a watch gifted to him by his grandfather was denied by the judge. Liman explained that Giuliani could claim an exemption for the watch if he could prove its value was below $1,000, but he did not provide such evidence. “No matter how distressing the situation may be, one party cannot claim that every heirloom should be exempt,” Liman stated.
Giuliani has filed an appeal regarding the $14.8 million judgment and requested the court to stop Freeman and Moss from selling any of his assets until the appeal process is completed. This request was also denied by Liman, who pointed out that Giuliani could have sought a ruling to halt any asset sales during the appeal in federal court but chose not to do so.
