Rudy Giuliani filed for bankruptcy in federal court in New York on Thursday (Friday AEDT), just days after a jury ordered him to pay nearly $US150 million ($223 million) to two former Georgia election workers for defamation.
According to the filing, Giuliani listed debts of between $US100 million and $US500 million, and assets worth up to $US10 million.
The bankruptcy declaration is another setback for the former New York City mayor, federal prosecutor and one-time front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, all stemming from his time as Donald Trump's attorney after the 2020 presidential election.
READ MORE: At least 15 people dead after mass shooting at Prague university, police chief says
Giuliani has listed nearly $US1 million in unpaid taxes among his liabilities as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars owed to lawyers and accountants.
He also lists pending lawsuits, including three defamation cases over his statements after the 2020 election that have not yet gone to trial and could add to his debt if he is ordered to pay damages in those cases.
"The filing should be a surprise to no one," Giuliani political adviser Ted Goodman said.
"No person could have reasonably believed that mayor Rudy Giuliani would be able to pay such a high punitive amount. Chapter 11 will afford mayor Giuliani the opportunity and time to pursue an appeal, while providing transparency for his finances under the supervision of the bankruptcy court, to ensure all creditors are treated equally and fairly throughout the process."
READ MORE: Teen who fell into waters off Victoria's west coast identified as local schoolboy
It comes a day after the federal judge who oversaw the blockbuster defamation case said the two plaintiffs – Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss – could begin trying to collect from Giuliani immediately.
US District Judge Beryl Howell said in her order Wednesday that Giuliani had escaped having to reveal his worth by refusing to turn over evidence he had in the case before trial. He also never acknowledged previous court orders for him to reimburse the women for his attorneys' fee and repeatedly claimed he was broke and the verdict would severely hurt him.
During the trial, Giuliani attorney Joseph Sibley said Freeman and Moss were asking for "the civil equivalent of the death penalty".
"They're trying to end Mr Giuliani," Sibley said.
READ MORE: CCTV released after thieves ransack home in Victoria
Giuliani may ask the bankruptcy court to excuse his debt to Moss and Freeman — in the same way Alex Jones tried and failed to do in his Sandy Hook defamation case.
But part of the final judgment in the 2020 election defamation case against Giuliani included his acknowledgement that he defamed them with malice, which would make it harder for him to escape his debt to them.
In the meantime, Moss and Freeman's lawyers have indicated they would move quickly to ask for liens on Giuliani's existing properties in New York and Florida and researching entities that may be providing money to him, such as Newsmax, where he has a show.
Source: https://ift.tt/nTYIbNh
Comments
Post a Comment