A federal judge in Manhattan should impose “strong sanctions” and civil contempt orders against Rudy Giuliani for blocking investigations and missing production deadlines, while the Georgia election officials he defamed continue to try to collect on their nearly $150 million judgment.
Plaintiffs' attorneys for Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss asked a judge to impose discovery sanctions and convict the former New York mayor for his “pattern of noncompliance,” according to a motion filed Thursday.
“Mr. Giuliani's conduct warrants severe sanctions – particularly adverse inferences and disbarments,” wrote Aaron Nathan of Willkie Farr & Gallagher.
It's about discoveries related to Giuliani's Florida condo, which he says is his primary residence.
However, the plaintiffs allege that newly obtained information through third-party subpoenas shows that Giuliani provided a New Hampshire address as recently as August when opening a new bank account.
Specifically, the plaintiffs want the judge to find that: Before August 8, Giuliani had no intention of living in the Palm Beach condominium – nor did he actually live in the Palm Beach condominium.
Adverse conclusions must be drawn, Nathan argues, since Giuliani has no incentive to comply with monetary sanctions.
“Mr. “Giuliani's existing debts to plaintiffs far exceed his existing assets, and there is no reason to believe that a monetary penalty would remedy the violation or deter such future conduct,” the filing states.
Nathan adds that Giuliani has so far “not turned over a single document” in response to the plaintiff's discovery orders, “despite multiple orders from this court requiring him to do so.”
“The court should not allow Mr. Giuliani to delay accountability, particularly in the context of a judgment enforcement action,” the document says.
“As a former practicing attorney for 50 years, Mr. Giuliani cannot 'seriously' claim that he was not informed of possible penalties,” the filing states.
The request comes less than a month after Giuliani was warned about his behavior by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman of the Southern District of New York.
Neither Giuliani's lawyer nor a spokesman immediately responded to a request for comment.
The enforcement action is part of an ongoing attempt by Freeman and Moss to collect the nearly $150 million judgment a jury awarded the duo after Giuliani falsely claimed they committed election fraud.
