NEW YORK — Rudy Giuliani has parted with dozens of watches and a Mercedes once owned by movie star Lauren Bacall two former election workers in Georgia who won a $148 million defamation judgmentsaid his lawyer.
Joseph Cammarata said in a letter filed late Friday in Manhattan federal court that the trove of watches and a ring were delivered by FedEx to a bank in Atlanta, Georgia, in the morning.
Lawyer argues Giuliani’s vehicle should have been appraised
The 1980 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 was turned over to an address in Hialeah, Florida, and an undisclosed amount of money from Giuliani’s Citibank accounts was also given to the two women who won the verdict, the letter said.
But Cammarata argued that forcing Giuliani to give up his luxury car was “completely inappropriate” as the car should have been appraised first.
If the value of the Mercedes turns out to be less than $5,500, then it should be exempt from the judgment under the law, he argued in the letter.
If it is determined to be worth more, it should be auctioned off, with a portion of the proceeds going to the two women: Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea “Shaye” Moss.
“This is how proper enforcement of these assets should work,” Cammarata wrote in bold text. “The very act of ordering the vehicle to be transferred to the plaintiffs without any assessment has taken away the defendant’s legal and constitutional rights.”
Shirt signed by Joe DiMaggio, $5 million apartment among Giuliani’s other assets
The letter also argues that some of Giuliani’s other assets should also be exempt from the judgment under New York and Florida law.
That includes all clothing – even a jersey signed by New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio that is part of the verdict – and all household furnishings, as well as a refrigerator, radio receiver, television set, computer, cell phone, dishes and cooking utensils, the letter stated.
Cammarata noted that there are also legal exemptions for jewelry valued at less than $1,325 — meaning his watches and other items must also be appraised — and for “trade instruments,” including “professional instruments, furniture and library items” that the Not to exceed $4,075. in value.
It’s not immediately clear what else Giuliani surrendered to meet Friday’s deadline. Aaron Nathan, an attorney for the two women, declined to comment.
Cammarata did not respond to follow-up questions in an email but called Giuliani “a victim of political persecution” and said this month’s elections showed that Americans have had enough of “witch hunts, indictments, impeachments, prosecutions, convictions, civil suits . and judge.”
“The people of this great nation have spoken; my legal team and client intend to do the same,” Cammarata wrote. “We will not give in.”
The former mayor’s $5 million Upper East Side apartment was among the other big items mentioned in the verdict, along with the 26 watches, his 1980 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 and the signed DiMaggio shirt.
On Thursday evening, Giuliani spokesman Ted Goodman posted a video on social platform
“This right here folks, this is the accumulation of 60 years of hard work,” Goodman said as the video panned over the series of timepieces with black, brown, gold and silver straps. “Many of these watches have great sentimental value and he is forced to hand them all over by court order.”
“What’s happening is wrong,” he continued. “It is shameful and we must restore the integrity of the American justice system.”
Lawyer asks for Giuliani’s trial to be postponed in January
Cammarata also asked in his letter on Friday to postpone Giuliani’s trial in January for the disposition of some of his assets so he can attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
He also confirmed that he has acted as Giuliani’s new legal advisor after previous lawyers asked the court this week for permission to no longer represent Giuliani, citing disagreements with him.
Giuliani has claimed he was the victim of a “political vendetta” and expects to win on appeal and get all his assets back.
“This is a case of political persecution,” he said last week after an appearance in Manhattan federal court. “There is not a person (who) does not know that the judgment is ridiculous.”
Representatives for Freeman and Moss said last week that they visited Giuliani’s Manhattan apartment to find it had been vacated well before the October deadline.
Giuliani was found liable for defamation for falsely accusing Freeman and Moss of voter fraud while raising Trump’s baseless allegations of election fraud during the 2020 campaign.
The women said they received death threats after Giuliani accused them of smuggling ballots in suitcases, counting the ballots multiple times and tampering with voting machines.
