A judge in the United States has found Rudy Giuliani, an ally of President-elect Donald Trump, in contempt of court for his failure to fully respond to requests about his assets.
Monday was the second day of Giuliani’s contempt hearing, and US District Judge Lewis J Liman ultimately ruled that he “willfully violated a clear and unambiguous order of this court”.
It was the latest chapter in an ongoing civil case that saw Giuliani, a former New York City mayor, liable for defamation over allegations made after the 2020 presidential election.
In December 2023, a jury in Washington, DC, determined that Giuliani should pay $73m in compensation and $75m as punishment to two election workers he falsely accused of tampering with the vote.
Giuliani had echoed Trump’s own unfounded claims that his 2020 defeat was the result of widespread election fraud.
According to lawyers, Giuliani’s allegations made the two election workers, mother Ruby Freeman and daughter Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, the target of repeated harassment and death threats.
On Monday, Judge Liman said Giuliani “blew past” a deadline on December 20 to provide details about his condominium in Palm Beach, Florida, that could be used as an asset to pay the penalties.
Lawyers for Moss and Freeman have also accused Giuliani of ignoring their requests for information as they attempt to collect the money owed.
For example, they said that Giuliani had indeed turned over a Mercedes-Benz car to authorities, as well as a New York apartment, but that he failed to provide the documents needed to monetise them.
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