Giuliani Faces Legal Trouble Over Hiding Assets Amid Defamation Settlement

 Rudy Giuliani, former New York mayor and ally of Donald Trump, found himself at the center of a legal controversy as he arrived at a Florida polling site on Tuesday in a Mercedes Benz convertible. The car, which Giuliani had been ordered to surrender as part of a $148 million defamation settlement to Georgia poll workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, is just one of several assets he allegedly hid from the court's reach.

The 1980s Mercedes SL500, once owned by Hollywood legend Lauren Bacall, was among the items that Giuliani's attorney, Aaron Nathan, claimed were deliberately concealed. According to Nathan's letter to the court, Giuliani had also moved the contents of his $5 million Manhattan apartment in violation of a receivership order issued by Judge Lewis Liman. The letter further revealed that despite repeated requests, Giuliani had not disclosed the location of most of the property that was supposed to be turned over to Freeman and Moss.

In addition to the car and apartment, Giuliani was ordered to surrender items including New York Yankees memorabilia and luxury watches. However, Nathan accused Giuliani of obstructing the process by evading inquiries and ignoring the court’s deadlines.

In response to the letter, Judge Liman scheduled a hearing for Giuliani on Thursday in New York. Giuliani's attorney, Kenneth Caruso, requested a delay to accommodate his client's radio broadcast obligations from Florida. Caruso argued that Giuliani had not received the proper guidance on how to comply with the order, though Nathan dismissed this claim as misleading.

As Giuliani arrived at the Palm Beach polling site in his Mercedes, he remained tight-lipped about the defamation settlement but did speak to reporters. His spokesperson, Ted Goodman, reiterated that Giuliani had made efforts to comply with the court's orders, even stating that documentation for the car’s title transfer had been requested from opposing counsel but had not been returned.

Goodman further emphasized that Giuliani's financial struggles were politically motivated, claiming the ongoing legal actions were an attempt to ruin his reputation and finances. Michael Ragusa, Giuliani’s head of security, defended the former mayor’s retention of the car, citing health issues and the lack of a mass transit system in Florida as reasons for Giuliani’s continued use of the vehicle.

The legal troubles stem from Giuliani's role in spreading false claims about Freeman and Moss following the 2020 election, claims which led to threats and harassment against the pair. Despite being cleared of any wrongdoing, Freeman and Moss pursued the defamation lawsuit, which culminated in the $148 million settlement. Giuliani’s bankruptcy case was dismissed in July, clearing the way for Freeman and Moss to begin collecting the award.

As the lawsuit continues, Giuliani’s legal battles, including his defamation case, have raised significant questions about the former mayor’s finances and his efforts to avoid complying with court orders. The saga now unfolds as Giuliani faces potential legal consequences for failing to turn over the assets as required.