In a flurry of court filings on Christmas Eve, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani begged a federal court to deny a request from two former Georgia election workers that he be sanctioned for failing to turn over property after they were awarded $148 million in a defamation case.
In a 20-page filing, Giuliani argued that plaintiffs Wandrea ‘Shay’ Moss and Ruby Freeman did not file an "oath" as required before they could begin receiving his property.
"A temporary receiver, before entering upon his duties, shall be sworn faithfully and fairly to discharge the trust committed to him," the filing said, citing state law. "The oath may be administered by any person authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds by the real property law. The oath may be waived upon consent of all parties."
"Hence, the receivership has not yet technically or legally begun," the motion stated. "Under applicable law, Plaintiff Ruby Freeman and Plaintiff Wandrea' Moss should not be permitted to act and cannot act as receivers at this time or until oaths are properly executed and filed with the Court."
In two other filings, Giuliani insisted that he had already turned over all property he could.
"I respectfully submit this Declaration in opposition to the Plaintiffs' motion to hold Defendant in civil contempt and impose sanctions," he wrote, claiming he gave the former election workers "more than what the Court order specifically requires."
He pointed to "various items of furniture" and his Mercedes-Benz as examples.
"The Court should see that I gave everything that I could give. I gave items of furniture and sports memorabilia that were not specifically listed on the Court's Turnover Order, but I gave them anyway to ensure that I was complying with this Court's orders," the filing insisted.
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"It is respectfully requested that Plaintiffs' motions for contempt and sanctions be denied in its entirety and for such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper," he concluded.
Attorneys for Freeman and Moss have argued that the former mayor violated an agreement to cease lies, claiming that they tried to rig the 2020 presidential contest for Joe Biden. Giuliani was also accused of slow-walking the process of turning over his property.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman set a civil contempt hearing for Jan. 3.
In recent weeks, Giuliani has struggled to retain attorneys to represent him.
