NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Rudy Giuliani to appear in court in early January over claims that he should be held in contempt for failing to transfer assets, including a lease on a New York apartment and a signed Joe DiMaggio shirt to two election workers in Georgia who won a defamation case against him.
Judge Lewis J. Liman in Manhattan signed the order summoning the former mayor of New York City and former personal attorney to newly elected President Donald Trump to appear before him on January 3.
Attorneys for the election workers who won a $148 million defamation judgment said in court filings that Giuliani failed to renege on the lease on items including the apartment, a Mercedes, several watches and jewelry, a signed Joe DiMaggio jersey and other baseball memorabilia about to wear. .
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Giuliani also faces a trial before Liman on Jan. 16 over the disposition of his Florida residence and World Series rings.
The contempt hearing follows a controversial hearing in November in which Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor, became angry with the judge and said Liman treated him unfairly.
“The implication that I was not diligent about it is completely false,” Giuliani said in a reprimanding tone as he described his efforts to obtain a replacement of the car’s title. “The implication you make is against me and any implication against me is wrong.”
During the hearing, Liman warned Giuliani’s lawyers that Giuliani should not interrupt a hearing again.
“He is not allowed to speak and the court will take action,” the judge said.
Giuliani was found liable last year for defaming two Georgia poll workers by falsely accusing them of tampering with ballots during the 2020 presidential election.
The women said they received death threats after Giuliani falsely claimed they had smuggled in ballots in suitcases, counted the ballots multiple times and tampered with voting machines.
In October, Liman ordered Giuliani to hand over many of his prized possessions to the pollsters. Giuliani’s lawyers have predicted that Giuliani will ultimately win custody of the items on appeal.
A lawyer for Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
