A federal judge in New York has run out of patience with Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s former personal attorney. The judge has ordered Giuliani to appear in person at a hearing scheduled for January 3, or risk having all his previous arguments in the case thrown out.
This hearing stems from a lawsuit filed by two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shay” Moss. Giuliani had falsely accused them of rigging the 2020 presidential election in favor of Joe Biden. The pair was awarded a staggering $148 million in damages last year, and this proceeding is part of their effort to collect the money.
Judge Lewis J. Liman, who is overseeing the case, had already told Giuliani last month that he must appear in person for the hearing. The plaintiffs had raised concerns about Giuliani missing deadlines and failing to provide key documents and information they needed for the case.
On Thursday, Giuliani made a last-minute request to attend the hearing virtually instead of showing up in person. His lawyer, Joseph Cammarata, claimed that Giuliani had medical issues, including knee problems and breathing difficulties linked to his time at the World Trade Center site after the 9/11 attacks. Giuliani also said that if allowed to attend remotely, he wouldn’t testify but would rely on his past statements and depositions.
The election workers’ attorneys pushed back, saying that if Giuliani wanted his statements to be considered, they had the right to question him in person. Judge Liman agreed, making it clear that Giuliani couldn’t skip the hearing and still expect his arguments to stand. The judge emphasized that if Giuliani didn’t show up, his past declarations wouldn’t count, as they’d need to be verified under oath and subjected to cross-examination.
Liman didn’t buy Giuliani’s excuses, pointing out that the former New York City mayor hadn’t provided any evidence to back up his claims about his health issues. He also noted that Giuliani had attended other court proceedings in the past without problems, even when he wasn’t required to testify.
The judge also highlighted the seriousness of the situation, as Giuliani’s credibility is a major issue in the case. The hearing is set to address whether Giuliani should be held in contempt for ignoring court orders, including one that required him to hand over important information to the plaintiffs.
If found in contempt, Giuliani could face sanctions in addition to the contempt ruling. Judge Liman warned last week that consequences are unavoidable for those who don’t follow the law. The decision on contempt and potential sanctions could come as early as the January 3 hearing.
This legal battle, centered in New York, is yet another chapter in the fallout from Giuliani’s baseless claims about election fraud—a saga that continues to unfold with serious consequences for those involved.
