
As 2025 approaches, Rudy Giuliani is bracing himself for a wave of legal challenges.
The former New York City mayor is currently entangled in contempt proceedings across two federal courts and risks facing a default judgment amid his ongoing legal woes.
Background of Legal Troubles
The roots of Giuliani’s predicament can be traced back to November 2020.
It was during this time that he made unfounded accusations against two Atlanta poll workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, claiming they had manipulated the election by counting thousands of fraudulent ballots.
Fast forward to August 2023, and Judge Beryl Howell imposed a default judgment against him after he consistently failed to fulfill discovery requirements.
In December of that year, a jury ordered him to pay a staggering $148 million in damages to Freeman and Moss.
Over the last year, these plaintiffs have sought to collect their judgment, while Giuliani has been maneuvering through bankruptcy proceedings, seemingly attempting to stall payments as he embarks on a difficult appeal.
His relationship with Judge Lewis Liman of the Southern District of New York has soured, particularly after Giuliani was spotted at Mar-a-Lago driving a Mercedes that the court had previously instructed him to return to the plaintiffs.
Current Court Proceedings
During a recent hearing, Judge Liman issued a stern warning to Giuliani’s new attorney, Joseph Cammarata—who specializes in divorce law—stressing the importance of compliance with court orders.
This caution came after Giuliani’s former legal team withdrew, citing ethical concerns over continuing to represent him in his bid for a homestead exemption on his Florida property.
The situation has only intensified since that hearing.
On December 5, the plaintiffs filed a motion asking the court to hold Giuliani in contempt and called for severe penalties.
Should the court agree, these sanctions could bar him from defending himself during the trial set for January 16, particularly regarding his residency in Florida from the previous year.
In a bid to respond, Giuliani submitted a partial set of 19 documents that raised eyebrows; the filing lacked proper indexing and essential metadata.
Critics noted that his submission appeared selective, including only those documents that might bolster his case while leaving out crucial communications like emails and text messages.
Struggles with Compliance
Judge Liman swiftly dismissed Giuliani’s latest filing, reminding him that a contempt hearing is already on the books for January 19.
He had not given any permission for Giuliani to update the court regarding his compliance with previous directives.
Adding another layer of complexity, Giuliani has declared his intention to bring six witnesses to the upcoming trial, himself included.
His ongoing non-compliance with discovery deadlines, coupled with his associates’ failure to respond to subpoenas, has only heightened frustrations among the plaintiffs.
More than a month past the deadline for initial disclosures, Giuliani submitted amended disclosures that suddenly introduced five additional witnesses.
He claims they could have relevant information about his supposed permanent residence in Florida.
However, these new witnesses have yet to be deposed, and only one has provided documentation.
Moreover, the contact details of two of them remain undisclosed, complicating efforts to secure their testimony.
In another troubling development, Giuliani persists in making defamatory statements about Freeman and Moss, prompting them to seek further intervention from Judge Howell in Washington, D.C. Though he is currently representing himself in this matter, Giuliani received a brief extension for responding to the contempt motion after claiming he plans to enlist a new attorney who is not disbarred.
The complexity of Giuliani’s legal battles underscores the significant challenges he faces as he navigates ongoing issues related to compliance with court mandates and the consequences of neglecting those obligations.
Source: Above the Law