Rudy Giuliani, the embattled former New York City mayor and personal attorney to President-elect Donald Trump, unleashed a fiery tirade against U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters outside a federal courthouse in New York City, Giuliani accused Liman of being an "activist Democrat" despite the fact that Trump appointed the judge in 2018. The comments came after a tense courtroom exchange during a pretrial hearing for a $148 million defamation lawsuit filed against Giuliani by two former Georgia election workers.
“Have you figured out what side he’s on?” Giuliani asked reporters, according to Politico. “Are you too dumb to see what side he’s on? I’ve been a lawyer for 55 years. I can figure out what side he’s on.”
Defamation Lawsuit and Financial Struggles
The lawsuit, brought by election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, accuses Giuliani of spreading false claims that implicated them in voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election. Judge Liman previously ordered Giuliani to pay damages and surrender assets, including the title to his Mercedes-Benz convertible. During the hearing, Liman pressed Giuliani on why he had not yet transferred the car’s title.
Giuliani claimed delays in obtaining a duplicate title were to blame, vehemently denying any lack of compliance. “The implication that I have not been diligent is totally incorrect,” he told the court. However, Liman interrupted Giuliani’s comments, warning, “Next time, I will not permit him to speak, and the court will have to take action.”
Giuliani further revealed his financial struggles in court, saying, “I don’t have a car. I don’t have a credit card. They have put a stop order on, for example, my Social Security account.”
Legal Troubles Continue to Mount
Once hailed as “America’s Mayor,” Giuliani’s legal battles have intensified since his involvement in Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. Disbarred in New York and Washington, D.C., Giuliani faces criminal charges in Georgia and Arizona related to election interference. He is also embroiled in defamation lawsuits brought by voting technology companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic.
The New York appeals court cited Giuliani’s role in spreading “demonstrably false and misleading statements” as grounds for his disbarment. These claims, the court ruled, sought to undermine public confidence in the election system.
Public Reaction: Support and Scorn
Giuliani’s remarks about Judge Liman quickly went viral, with netizens divided in their responses:
@JusticeWatchdog: “Giuliani’s unhinged rant is just another example of his downward spiral. He’s lost all credibility.”
@MAGA_Truth24: “Rudy is a hero for standing up to activist judges! Keep fighting for the truth!”
@LegalObserverNY: “Giuliani complaining about a Trump-appointed judge? Irony just hit a new level.”
@RubyJustice2020: “Good to see accountability for the lies that harmed election workers. Giuliani deserves every consequence.”
@FreeSpeechRudy: “Liman’s bias is on full display. Giuliani is being treated unfairly, plain and simple.”
@DemocracyFirst: “Giuliani’s arrogance knows no bounds. His actions endangered democracy, and he’s still playing the victim.”
Future Implications for Giuliani
With escalating legal challenges, Giuliani’s reputation continues to erode. As the defamation case against him progresses, his explosive courtroom behavior may further complicate his efforts to defend himself. Meanwhile, Judge Liman has signaled that further outbursts will not be tolerated, raising the stakes for Giuliani in this high-profile case.