By Andrew Goudsward
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. judge ordered Rudy Giuliani to turn over control of a luxury New York apartment, jewelry and other valuables to the control of two Georgia election workers seeking to collect nearly $146 million from the former New York mayor in a defamation case.
A federal jury in Washington, D.C., last year found Giuliani, a former personal lawyer to Donald Trump, had defamed the two election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea’ “Shaye” Moss, by falsely accusing them of rigging votes in the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
Giuliani was ordered to put control of the Manhattan apartment, cash accounts, sports memorabilia, high-end watches and other items into a receivership controlled by Freeman and Moss within seven days, according to an order from U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman.
“We are proud that our clients will finally begin to receive some of the compensation to which they are entitled for Giuliani’s actions,” Aaron Nathan, a lawyer for Freeman and Moss, said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Freeman and Moss also received court approval to pursue roughly $2 million in unpaid legal fees Giuliani said he was owed from the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee for work following the 2020 election.
Giuliani sought to postpone a decision on the legal fees until after the Nov. 5 election between Trump, a Republican, and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, arguing that he did not want to create what he said would be an inaccurate impression that he was suing Trump.
Liman deferred ruling on the Freeman and Moss’ attempt to take possession of Giuliani’s Palm Beach, Florida, condominium and three New York Yankees World Series rings that Giuliani’s son Andrew has claimed were given to him.
Giuliani declared bankruptcy after the defamation award was handed down, but a judge ended the case in August, allowing Freeman and Moss to begin trying to collect on the judgment.
Giuliani is appealing the verdict.
The former mayor has been disbarred in New York and faces criminal indictments in Georgia and Arizona for aiding Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.
(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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