By Luc Cohen and Dietrich Knauth
NEW YORK (Reuters) –Rudy Giuliani filed for chapter on Thursday, simply days after he was ordered to pay $148 million to 2 former Georgia election staff he falsely accused of fraud following Donald Trump‘s 2020 presidential election loss.
Guiliani, who was often known as “America’s mayor” for his management of New York after the Sept. 11, 2001, assaults, faces a crush of money owed stemming from his work as a lawyer on former President Trump’s behalf. He additionally faces legal fees in Georgia.
In a submitting in U.S. Chapter Court docket in New York, Giuliani stated he had between $100 million and $500 million in liabilities and $1 million to $10 million in belongings.
A spokesperson for Giuliani, who not works as Trump’s lawyer, stated the chapter submitting will give him time to enchantment the $148 million penalty and be certain that different collectors are handled pretty.
“No individual might have fairly believed that Mayor Rudy Giuliani would have the ability to pay such a excessive punitive quantity,” spokesperson Ted Goodman stated.
U.S. chapter proceedings can allow individuals and firms to wipe away or reorganize their money owed, and Giuliani’s submitting will pause the entire pending civil lawsuits towards him.
Nevertheless, it might not permit him to duck the cash he owes the election staff, as judges have dominated that defamation penalties can’t be discharged if a debtor has engaged in “willful and malicious” conduct.
The 2 former election staff, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and her mom Ruby Freeman, confronted a deluge of threats after Giuliani falsely claimed they have been engaged in voting fraud.
Giuliani has repeated these claims following the Dec. 15 verdict regardless that he has admitted in courtroom that they have been defamatory, prompting the 2 staff to file a second lawsuit.
A federal choose on Wednesday dominated that Giuliani should instantly start paying the 2 ladies, concluding there was a danger he could try to hide his belongings. A lawyer for the 2 ladies stated chapter wouldn’t discharge his debt to them.
Giuliani was named Time journal’s Particular person of the Yr following the 2001 assaults, and he mounted an unsuccessful bid for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.
As Trump’s private lawyer, he led efforts to maintain Trump within the White Home following his 2020 defeat, submitting unsuccessful lawsuits to problem the outcomes and falsely claiming in public testimony that he had proof proving election fraud.
His seat-of-the-pants effort typically drew ridicule. He scheduled a press convention at a “4 Seasons” in Philadelphia that turned out to be a landscaping firm, not a luxurious lodge. At one other information convention, a darkish substance, probably hair dye, dripped down his face.
He known as for “trial by fight” at a rally for Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, shortly earlier than 1000’s of them attacked the U.S. Capitol in an effort to forestall Congress from certifying Trump’s defeat.
Giuliani faces legal fees of election subversion in Georgia, together with Trump and greater than a dozen different co-defendants. He has pleaded not responsible.
His regulation license has been suspended in New York and he faces disbarment in Washington.
Giuliani listed President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, and a former worker, Noelle Dunphy, as collectors on the chapter submitting.
Hunter Biden has sued Giuliani for violating his privateness over information allegedly taken from his laptop computer, whereas Dunphy has sued him for sexual assault, harassment and wage theft. Giuliani has denied the allegations.
Dunphy’s lawyer Justin Kelton stated they might not be deterred from pursuing the case.
Different collectors embrace Smartmatic and an worker of Dominion Voting Techniques. He faces lawsuits for claiming each voting-machine corporations flipped votes from Trump to Biden within the 2020 election.
The 2 corporations didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
Giuliani additionally stated he owed almost $1 million to the U.S. and New York state governments and almost $2 million in authorized charges.
Two regulation companies that previously represented him have sued for unpaid payments.
(Reporting by Luc Cohen and Dietrich Knauth in New York, Andrew Goudsward and Susan Heavey in Washingtion; writing Andy Sullivan; modifying by Rami Ayyub, Noeleen Walder and Jonathan Oatis)
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