Rudy Giuliani, the embattled former New York City mayor, erupted in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday as he tried—and failed—to push back a January trial date in his $148 million defamation case. The 80-year-old former U.S. attorney shouted at Judge Lewis Liman, accusing him of unfairly targeting him throughout the hearing. The courtroom tensions escalated when the judge questioned why Giuliani had not yet turned over the title of his 1980 Mercedes convertible, a key point in the defamation lawsuit brought by two Georgia election workers.
Giuliani’s outburst came after Liman pressed him on the issue of assets, asking why he hadn’t applied for a title certificate for the car. The former mayor, visibly frustrated, cut the judge off, insisting that he had already applied for the title and rejecting any suggestion that he was trying to avoid complying with the court order. Giuliani also disputed the judge’s characterization of his financial situation, claiming he wasn’t impoverished, just that his assets were tied up, without providing evidence for his claim that his Social Security account had been blocked.
The courtroom drama continued as Giuliani accused the judge of implying that he was not diligent about his financial responsibilities, including the title issue. The tense exchange reached a boiling point when the judge warned Giuliani to stop interrupting. Liman made it clear that Giuliani could either have legal representation or represent himself, but he could not do both.
This defamation case stems from Giuliani’s false claims about two election workers following the 2020 presidential election. As the case progresses, a January 16 trial date has been set to determine whether Giuliani will have to forfeit his Palm Beach condo, Yankees World Series rings, and potentially other assets to settle the defamation claims.
Giuliani’s financial troubles and mounting legal challenges are at the forefront of the case, with his claims about being financially constrained central to the defense strategy. He continues to face legal battles from multiple directions, including the defamation suits and his ongoing efforts to appeal judgments in Washington, D.C.
With this high-profile trial looming, the courtroom drama promises to intensify as Giuliani’s financial and legal woes take center stage.
This article was written with artificial intelligence.