A judge has penalized Rudy Giuliani for not producing materials he was ordered to.
The former New York City mayor has not released his financial documents and other discovery requested by election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, who are suing him for defamation. Judge Beryl Howell in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia wrote in his ruling Friday that these were “timely requests” for the trial slated before the year’s end.
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“Giuliani’s continued and flagrant disregard of this Court’s August 30 Order that he produce financial-related documents concerning his personal and his businesses’ past and present assets, revenues, income, viewership metrics, and social media, all of which information is potentially pertinent at the upcoming damages trial,” Howell wrote.
This comes after Giuliani was already found liable for defamation by Howell. Previously, Giuliani didn’t comply with discovery obligations in the election workers’ lawsuit, which they filed in December 2021. His failure to comply gave him a “track record,” according to Howell’s most recent ruling. A civil jury will be deciding the fines Giuliani will pay the plaintiffs.
As a result, the plaintiffs suggested the jury be informed that Giuliani refused to issue these documents, and his defense team will not be allowed to make any references to Giuliani’s financial situation or introduce evidence that was previously requested in the court order. Now, jurors will be informed, according to Howell, that they can infer that Giuliani “was intentionally trying to hide relevant discovery,” “received substantial financial benefits from defendant Giuliani’s defamation of Plaintiffs,” and was “shielding his assets from discovery.”
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Freeman and Moss claim the former mayor defamed them by implying they manipulated election results in 2020, intentionally inflicted emotional distress, aroused civil conspiracy, and are subsequently seeking punitive damages.
Giuliani’s civil trial is set for Dec. 11.
