A federal judge in Manhattan has scheduled a contempt hearing for Rudy Giuliani after Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea ArShaye “Shaye” Moss accused him of repeatedly violating court orders and neglecting his discovery obligations in their defamation lawsuit. The hearing is set for January 3, 2025.
The defamation case stems from Giuliani’s false claims during the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, in which he falsely accused Freeman and Moss of voter fraud and election rigging. These baseless allegations led to a $148 million default defamation judgment in favor of the two women in December 2023. Since then, Freeman and Moss have been engaged in ongoing litigation to secure the funds owed to them from Giuliani.
As part of their efforts to enforce the judgment, Freeman and Moss have been seeking discovery from Giuliani to gather financial documents relevant to the case. However, they claim that Giuliani has failed to comply with multiple court orders requiring him to produce these documents. Despite two orders from the court issued on October 28 and November 22 Giuliani has not provided any of the requested materials. These orders explicitly set deadlines for him to respond, yet he missed both deadlines without explanation. This ongoing non-compliance led Freeman and Moss to file a motion on December 5, 2024, requesting that the court hold Giuliani in contempt for his continued disregard of the court’s instructions.
In their motion, Freeman and Moss highlight the urgency of their request, as they are facing a tight timeline to resolve issues related to a lien on Giuliani’s Palm Beach property. This issue is part of a broader dispute regarding the enforcement of the defamation judgment. The plaintiffs argue that Giuliani’s failure to produce the necessary financial documents is hindering their ability to proceed with the case and potentially delaying the trial scheduled for January 16, 2025. In particular, the discovery they seek is critical to understanding whether Giuliani has hidden assets that could be used to satisfy the judgment.
In addition to asking the court to find Giuliani in contempt, Freeman and Moss also seek separate sanctions for his failure to comply with discovery orders. They argue that Giuliani’s conduct warrants severe sanctions due to his willful defiance of the court’s orders and his apparent lack of effort to cooperate with the discovery process. The plaintiffs suggest that the appropriate sanctions could include adverse inferences, which would allow the court to draw negative conclusions about the missing documents, and preclusion of certain evidence, effectively barring Giuliani from using certain arguments in his defense.
The contempt hearing is scheduled for early January, but the court has set a briefing schedule to allow the parties to submit any motions or evidence ahead of time. Giuliani must file a memorandum in response to the motion by December 19, 2024, with Freeman and Moss allowed to file a reply by December 27, 2024. The judge has made it clear that any untimely filings will be disregarded, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the deadlines. The court has also left the format of the hearing open, asking both parties to indicate whether they wish to present evidence or testimony during the hearing.
Giuliani’s legal troubles have only intensified in recent months as he continues to face multiple defamation lawsuits stemming from his role in promoting false narratives about the 2020 election. These legal battles have put Giuliani under increasing pressure, especially as he fails to meet the requirements of various court orders. His ongoing refusal to cooperate with the discovery process in the Freeman and Moss case has become a point of contention, raising the possibility of significant penalties if the court finds him in contempt.
The upcoming contempt hearing will be a pivotal moment in this case. If Giuliani is found to be in contempt of court, he could face substantial financial penalties and further complications in his ongoing legal struggles. Freeman and Moss are determined to hold him accountable, and the court’s swift action in scheduling the hearing signals that the judge is taking their concerns seriously. With the trial date for their defamation case looming just a few weeks after the contempt hearing, it is clear that Freeman and Moss are pushing for a resolution to this long-running legal battle. The outcome of the hearing could have significant consequences not only for Giuliani’s financial situation but also for his broader legal strategy moving forward.