A federal judge in New York has put his foot down against Rudy Giuliani’s attempt to keep his witness list under wraps for an upcoming trial. The trial, set for next month, revolves around whether Giuliani will have to hand over his multimillion-dollar condo in Florida to two Georgia election workers he defamed, leading to a $148 million judgment against him.
Judge Lewis J. Liman wasn’t pleased when Giuliani filed his witness list in secret on December 23. According to the judge, there was no permission or direction for Giuliani to do so. On Monday, the judge ordered the clerk to make the list public, putting it on the court’s docket for everyone to see.
This is just the latest hiccup for Giuliani in a legal battle filled with missteps. At the heart of the issue is Giuliani’s Florida condo, which he claims is his primary residence, making it eligible for homestead protection under Florida law. If true, this would shield the property from being seized to pay off his massive debt to Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, the election workers he falsely accused of fraud.
However, lawyers for Freeman and Moss argue otherwise. They believe Giuliani treated the Palm Beach condo more like a vacation spot and have accused him of dodging questions during the discovery process to cover up the truth about his living situation. This question of whether the condo is truly Giuliani’s permanent home will be a key focus when the trial begins on January 16, 2025.
Giuliani’s witness list, now public, includes some familiar names. He plans to testify for about an hour to explain his move from New York City to Florida. He’s also called on five other witnesses to support his claims, each expected to testify for about 30 minutes.
Among the witnesses is Maria Ryan, Giuliani’s long-rumored girlfriend, who has worked closely with him in the past. Another name on the list is Monsignor Alan Placa, a longtime friend of Giuliani. Placa’s name might ring a bell for a different reason—he was linked to the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse scandal in New York decades ago. According to a grand jury report from 2003, Placa was accused of helping cover up abuse by priests and even attempting inappropriate behavior himself years ago. While Placa was never criminally charged, his association with the scandal has followed him ever since.
Other witnesses include Ryan Medrano, Giuliani’s former bookkeeper, and Michael Ragusa, one of his spokespersons. Medrano is expected to provide insights into Giuliani’s finances, while Ragusa will back up claims about the Florida move. There’s also Theodore Goodman, another spokesperson, who might be called to testify about photographs of Giuliani if needed.
The judge’s decision to unseal the witness list comes just days after Giuliani faced threats of being held in contempt of court. Judge Liman has repeatedly called out Giuliani for missing deadlines and failing to follow court orders, particularly regarding the discovery process. In a recent four-page order, the judge made it clear that there are consequences for ignoring legal obligations.
A hearing to determine if Giuliani will be held in contempt is scheduled for January 3, 2025. As this saga continues to unfold, all eyes will be on Giuliani and the courtroom drama surrounding his Florida condo.
