Former NYC mayor Giuliani fails to appear in court over Florida condo trial

On Thursday, the two judges presiding over the case warned Mr Giuliani that further obstruction could land him in jail.

Tosin Ajuwon • January 16, 2025

Rudolph Giuliani (Los Angeles Times)

Rudolph Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, failed to show up at the federal court in Lower Manhattan to testify in a trial that will determine if he can keep a Florida condo, the BBC reported on Thursday.

Mr Giuliani, 80, is currently being held in contempt for his failure to hand over millions of dollars in assets to settle a nine-figure defamation suit.

His case stems from a defamation suit instituted in 2021, in which a jury awarded two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Shane Moss, $148 million for damage to their reputations caused by Mr Giuliani.

Mr Giuliani had allegedly claimed that Ms Freeman and Ms Moss manipulated the ballots, even though he failed to provide evidence to support his claims.

Both women said they faced death threats as a result of his allegations, and they had to go into hiding.

Mr Giuliani’s baseless claims about the workers have already cost him millions of dollars in assets, including his longtime Manhattan apartment, but he has been uncooperative in handing over much of the property.

On Thursday, the two judges presiding over the case warned Mr Giuliani that further obstruction could land him in jail.

Lewis Liman, the judge in the trial, is expected to rule on whether Mr Giuliani must surrender his condo in Palm Beach, Fla., which he claims is his primary residence, to pay down a multimillion-dollar judgement.

The apartment was valued at $3.5 million, according to the BBC.

However, the court has adjourned the case until January 21, 2025, the day after President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration.

No reason has yet been given for Mr Giuliani’s absence on Thursday.

He was expected to be the lead witness in court, as his lawyer argued that he should be able to keep his Palm Beach condo.

Andrew Giuliani, his son, was also expected to testify that his father gave him three World Series rings—personally made for the former mayor after the Yankees’ championship wins in 1996, 1999, and 2000—years ago, and that, therefore they should not be seized.

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