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

A representative from the moving company and lawyers were expected to be given access of Rudy Giuliani Manhattan apartment Thursday after the former New York City mayor failed to turn over the belongings of two former Georgia election workers who won a $148 million defamation judgment against him.

The two sides launched accusations against each other this week as the deadline for Giuliani to turn over the items passed on Tuesday without any of the assets changing hands.

US District Judge Lewis Liman ordered Giuliani Last week to give 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 a variety of other possessions, from his television to a shirt signed by New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio, up to 26 luxury watches.

The moving company representative and attorneys for Freeman and Moss were expected to be allowed into Giuliani’s apartment to see what property was there and estimate the cost of moving the items named in Liman’s order, according to a court document filed late Wednesday by Aaron Nathan, a lawyer. for electoral workers.

In the document, Nathan said he had spoken with Giuliani’s lawyers, but that they were not prepared 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 late Tuesday that his client is ready to turn over the assets, but attorneys for Freeman and Moss have not provided instructions on how to do so.

Nathan declined to comment Thursday. The Associated Press left phone and email messages Thursday with a representative and attorneys for Giuliani.

Voting in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Thursday afternoon, Giuliani would not confirm that anyone had been in his New York apartment. He said he didn’t get a chance to defend himself in the Georgia election workers case and said he believed the ruling would be overturned on appeal.

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

In fact, Giuliani was given the chance to turn over information requested by attorneys for Freeman and Moss last year, but failed to do so. As punishment, a separate judge found Giuliani liable for defamation before any trial. A trial was subsequently held to determine the damages.

On Thursday, Liman ordered both sides to submit a status report on any ownership exchange by Monday. He said he would hold a status conference on November 7 if the assets are not handed over.

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

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

Giuliani’s lawyers argued that Freeman and Moss should not be allowed to obtain and sell their assets while his appeal of the $148 million judgment is pending. But Liman ruled against him last week and set the deadline for Tuesday. Giuliani’s appeal is currently before a federal appeals court in Washington.

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

Also at issue is whether Giuliani should turn over his $3 million condo in Palm Beach, Fla. — which he says is his primary residence — and several Yankees World Series rings he received when he was mayor.

Extending Donald Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, Giuliani falsely accused Freeman and Moss of ballot fraud, saying they snuck in ballots in suitcases, counted the ballots several times and tampered with the voting machines.

Freeman and Moss sued for defamation and said the false allegations led to death threats that made them fear for their lives. A Washington jury awarded them $148 million last year.

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