Giuliani Faces Potential Contempt of Court as He Battles Defamation Case Rulings

Rudy Giuliani, the former attorney for Donald Trump, is facing a serious legal challenge in federal court in Manhattan where he risks being held in contempt. This action stems from claims made by two election workers from Georgia, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea "Shaye" Moss, who argue that Giuliani has repeatedly failed to comply with court orders in their ongoing defamation lawsuit against him.

During a daylong hearing, Giuliani testified to defend himself, and if the judge concludes that he has disregarded court mandates—specifically, his failure to provide required assets and evidence—he could either incur a financial penalty or face imprisonment until he adheres to the court's requests. Legal experts note that should Giuliani be found in contempt, any potential pardon powers that Trump might regain if he returns to the presidency would not apply in this case, as civil contempt sentences fall outside the president's pardon authority.

Giuliani, who displayed an argumentative demeanor during the proceedings, is currently embroiled in multiple civil cases initiated by Freeman and Moss. Their legal battles began after Giuliani falsely accused them of participating in election fraud, leading to a 2023 judgment that mandated he pay them $148 million due to the defamation, which included threats and accusations. As he faces the contempt hearing, his legal counsel argued that many of the requests made to him were excessive and unsuitable.

Complicating matters for Giuliani is his recent change of attorneys, which has added challenges to meeting court deadlines. His new attorney claimed that Giuliani has substantially complied with court directives, despite Giuliani’s struggles with numerous legal issues, including ongoing criminal investigations in other states related to the 2020 election interference.

During his testimony, Giuliani faced cross-examination regarding his declarations of having adhered to court orders. The questioning also touched on missing items from his property, including a signed Joe DiMaggio jersey, which had been mentioned in the context of his compliance with asset documentation requests. Despite health issues, Giuliani attended court in person after judges warned he may lose his chance to testify otherwise. If the court finds him in contempt, legal opinions clarify that he could remain under detention until he follows the court's orders, emphasizing that such civil contempt actions are designed to compel compliance rather than serve as punishment.