Rudy Giuliani's Fight To Keep Home Just Got Harder

A New York judge has said that he will limit Rudy Giuliani's attempts to save his $3.5 million Florida condominium.

The former New York mayor has to pay $148 million to two Georgia election workers—Ruby Freeman, and her daughter, Shaye Moss—he defamed during the 2020 presidential election and is now fighting to keep the condo out of the financial settlement.

Newsweek sought email comment on Tuesday from Freeman and Moss's lawyer.

Why It Matters

The case feeds into the wider argument about the fallout from Joe Biden's win in the 2020 presidential election. Giuliani, who was Donald Trump's campaign lawyer, falsely claimed after the election that Freeman and Moss, had added votes for Joe Biden. At a defamation trial in Washington D.C, Giuliani was unable to back up the claim and a jury awarded Freeman and Moss $148 million.

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani leaves the New York Federal Courthouse on November 7, 2024 in New York City. A judge has limited Giuliani's defenses in his battle to keep his $3.5 million Florida... Alex Kent/Getty Images

What To Know

Judge Lewis Liman's ruling on Monday means that Giuliani will be limited in the evidence and defenses he can bring to court in his fight to save the condo.

Liman is to hold hearings, beginning on January 16, on whether Giuliani is really living at the West Palm Beach condo he is claiming as his primary residence.

As Giuliani has not provided the plaintiff lawyer with information that would prove he is living in West Palm Beach, such as dates of doctor and lawyer visits in Palm Beach, Liman is limiting Giuliani from using evidence of those meetings as proof of residency. That will make it more difficult for Giuliani to prove that the condo is his primary residence.

What People Are Saying

Los Angeles-based trial lawyer, John J. Perlstein, told Newsweek that Liman is running out of patience: "Giuliani is obfuscating the process, and Judge Liman is fed up with it. Therefore, he seems to be limiting Giuliani's ability to prove that the Florida residence is primary, which, if proven, would protect it from seizure."

When asked for comment, Giuliani spokesman Ted Goodman told Newsweek in a statement: "[Freeman and Moss's attorneys] might be happy to fight to take away Mayor Giuliani's most cherished personal belongings, including his signed baseball jersey of his childhood hero and his grandfather's pocket watch, but they can never take away his extraordinary record of public service."

What Happens Next

Liman will begin hearing evidence about Giuliani's primary residence on January 16. Plaintiff lawyers will seek to show that Giuliani is living in New York, not in Florida.