Federal Judge Throws Out Rudy Giuliani’s Bankruptcy Case, Opening Door for Election Workers to Recover Millions
Federal Judge Throws Out Rudy Giuliani’s Bankruptcy Case, Opening Door for Election Workers to Recover Millions
In a major development, a federal judge has thrown out Rudy Giuliani’s bankruptcy case, allowing election workers he defamed to potentially recover tens of millions of dollars owed to them. Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December following a nearly $150 million defamation judgment for his baseless allegations surrounding the 2020 election.
The decision from bankruptcy court judge Sean Lane on Friday came after Giuliani himself moved to dismiss his case, and lawyers for the election workers and other creditors agreed that this was the best path forward. Despite the dismissal of his bankruptcy case, Giuliani’s creditors can still pursue legal avenues to collect what they are owed, including seizing his properties and other assets.
Giuliani’s attempts to change his case from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 in an effort to liquidate his assets also failed. The judge cited Giuliani’s failure to meet reporting obligations and provide financial transparency as reasons for throwing out the case.
The end of Giuliani’s bankruptcy case does not absolve him of his debts, which include the defamation judgment and other legal obligations. Giuliani is facing criminal charges in Georgia and Arizona for his efforts to overturn the election results in those states, as well as being an unindicted co-conspirator in a federal case related to election fraud.
The creditors’ committee overseeing Giuliani’s bankruptcy case has raised concerns about his financial reporting and disclosures, including discrepancies in payments on his Florida condo and unauthorized payments to his alleged girlfriend. Giuliani is also facing defamation lawsuits from voting technology companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic.
Despite the setback in his bankruptcy case, Giuliani’s spokesperson expressed confidence that justice will prevail in the long run and that Giuliani will be vindicated. The legal battles surrounding Giuliani’s actions in the aftermath of the 2020 election continue to unfold, with significant implications for his financial and legal future.