Former US President Donald Trump’s ex-lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, has been ordered to surrender his personal assets by next week or face the risk of being seized. The decision was made by Manhattan Federal Court Judge Lewis Liman on Tuesday, October 22.
Giuliani, the former Mayor of New York City, is embroiled in legal troubles for his alleged involvement in efforts to disrupt the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Last year, he was ordered to pay $148 million in damages to two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, who are mother and daughter.
According to the court ruling, Giuliani must hand over his assets within seven days, including cash accounts, jewelry, household appliances, and furniture. Judge Liman has also authorized the mother-daughter duo to immediately sell these assets.
Additionally, they are allowed to pursue the $2 million in legal fees that Giuliani claims Trump owes him. Among the valuable items Giuliani has been ordered to surrender are his collection of watches, including those gifted by foreign leaders after the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, signed jerseys by renowned New York Yankees player Joe DiMaggio and other sports memorabilia, as well as a 1980 Mercedes-Benz previously owned by Hollywood star Lauren Bacall.
The judge has not yet decided whether Giuliani can retain his apartment in Palm Beach, Florida. He is temporarily allowed to retain control of the property until a hearing on January 16 next year to determine if he can keep the apartment as his primary residence.
Giuliani’s son argues that three of the Yankees’ World Series championship rings were gifted to him by his father and that the election workers have no right to claim ownership of these assets.
Despite the staggering amounts involved, the mother-daughter duo is unlikely to receive the full amount they are hoping for, as Giuliani previously disclosed $10.6 million in assets when he applied for bankruptcy protection.