Rudy Giuliani can't hire a lawyer, and it's the judge's fault, he says

Shaddi Abusaid, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Dec 12, 2024

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NEW YORK — Rudy Giuliani is blaming a federal judge in Washington, D.C. for his trouble finding an attorney willing to represent him as he tries to fend off the $148 million jury verdict awarded to two Fulton County election workers that he falsely accused of ballot fraud.

In a filing last week, the former New York City mayor told U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell that four lawyers refused to accept him as a client because they think the judge is “unreasonable and biased about Trump related matters.”

One attorney, Giuliani wrote, called his case “a foregone conclusion” and a “no-win proposition.”

“Among other numerous reasons your handling of the (January 6) cases is considered by many to be the most unnecessarily harsh,” Giuliani told Howell.

He told the judge those attorneys consider her to be “ideological rather than logical.”

In declining to represent him, Giuliani said the attorneys cited objections from their firms about the effect the case may have on their practice. This comes after two of Giuliani’s lawyers asked to be removed from the case last month, citing disagreements with their client.

Giuliani, the former personal attorney of President-elect Donald Trump, was disbarred in New York and Washington D.C. this year for pursuing phony claims made by Trump about his 2020 election defeat. Giuliani is currently representing himself as he searches for new counsel.

Judge Howell granted his request for a one-month extension to respond to a contempt motion filed by the poll workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss. The women, whom Giuliani already owes tens of millions of dollars, say he continues to accuse them of wrongdoing during Georgia’s 2020 election.

Guiliani has accused the pair of sneaking in ballots in suitcases and counting ballots multiple times, even after the defamation verdict.

A contempt ruling in the case could result in additional monetary sanctions and possibly even jail time for the 80-year-old once hailed as “America’s mayor.” Howell said any additional requests for more time so that Giuliani can find a lawyer would be “viewed with continuing skepticism.”

Giuliani faces another trial in January as the workers seek to obtain his Florida condo. Freeman and Moss are also trying recover assets a judge has already awarded them, including memorabilia signed by baseball legends Reggie Jackson and Joe DiMaggio and the title to a Mercedes-Benz convertible once owned by actor Lauren Bacall.

With the exception of a few dozen watches and the title-less convertible, attorneys for Freeman and Moss say that so far, Giuliani has avoided surrendering his assets. He filed for bankruptcy days after the verdict and Freeman and Moss objected, saying it was an attempt to avoid paying them.

A federal judge dismissed the bankruptcy case in July, clearing the way for the election workers and other creditors to collect.

Giuliani still faces criminal charges in Georgia and Arizona over his efforts to help overturn the 2020 election results. That’s in addition to numerous lawsuits pending against him over unpaid legal bills, comments made about voting machine companies and a salacious complaint filed by a former associate accusing Giuliani of coercing her into sex and withholding $2 million in wages.