Rudy Giuliani must turn over personal property to 2 GA election officials. See how it will work

Rudy Giuliani needs to get his act together.

The former New York mayor was ordered to turn over his Manhattan apartment, a Mercedes and an assortment of other personal property — from his television to a shirt autographed by Joe DiMaggio — to two Georgia election officials who won a defamation trial for $148 million against him.

(DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for breaking news alerts)

So how will this work? Does he gather up his precious possessions and send them on a truck to a location chosen by the workers? Or do the workers – Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss – have to send their own truck to pick them up?

Here’s how property turnover might work, according to lawyers involved in the case and Tuesday’s order from a New York federal judge.

How will the property be transferred?

Giuliani was ordered within seven days to turn over a variety of properties to Freeman and Moss to help pay part of the $148 million judgment. In addition to the New York apartment, 26 luxury watches and the 1980 Mercedes that once belonged to movie star Lauren Bacall, he must also give up a shirt and a photo signed, respectively, by Yankees legends Joe DiMaggio and Reggie Jackson, a photo signed from Yankee Stadium, a diamond ring, costume jewelry and money in certain bank accounts.

Freeman and Moss won a defamation lawsuit over Giuliani’s false voter fraud allegations against them in connection with the 2020 presidential election. They said Giuliani pushed former President Donald Trump’s lies about the election being stolen, which led to to death threats that made them fear for their lives. Giuliani falsely accused them of putting ballots in suitcases, counting ballots multiple times and tampering with voting machines.

It is unclear where the items the former New York mayor is expected to deliver are located. His lawyers did not return messages Wednesday.

Lawyers involved in the case say the details of the transfer of ownership will be finalized in the coming days. Giuliani could send the items to a location chosen by Freeman and Moss. If he doesn’t agree to this, Freeman and Moss may have to rent a truck or van at their own expense and send it to Giuliani’s apartment or wherever the assets are.

Once Freeman and Moss obtain the items, they will store them in locations of their choosing, with smaller items possibly kept in their attorneys’ offices.

His lawyers are expected to obtain possession of documents relating to the ownership of the New York apartment.

RELATED STORIES

What can Freeman and Moss do with the assets?

U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman in Manhattan appointed Freeman and Moss as “receivers” and gave them authority to take possession of many of Giuliani’s assets and sell them immediately.

Any money they receive from selling the assets must be placed in a trust account. Attorneys for Freeman and Moss would have to ask the judge for permission to distribute the account funds to their clients.

The New York apartment is estimated to cost more than $5 million. Giuliani was also ordered to hand over his interest on about $2 million that he says Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign owes him for his services. The value of the other items Giuliani will have to hand over is unclear.

Any sale or new occupancy of the New York apartment would be subject to approval by the building’s cooperative board. So no, Freeman and Moss couldn’t live in it outright or sublet it.

Still embroiled in litigation in the case are Giuliani’s condominium in Palm Beach, Florida, estimated to be worth more than $3 million, and four New York Yankees World Series rings that Giuliani received during his tenure as mayor. Giuliani argues that he should be able to keep the Florida condo because it is his primary residence, while his son, Andrew, claims his father gave him the World Series rings as a gift.

What will happen if Giuliani wins the appeal?

Giuliani is appealing the $148 million sentence in federal court in Washington.

He asked the New York judge to prohibit Freeman and Moss from selling any of their assets until his appeal was completed. But the judge rejected the request. He said Giuliani could have — but did not ask — the federal court in Washington, D.C., where Freeman and Moss won the case, to halt any asset sales pending his appeal.

Giuliani’s lawyers said Tuesday that if he wins his appeal, Freeman and Moss will owe him the money they received from selling the assets or the actual value of the property, whichever is greater.

Giuliani spokesman Ted Goodman said Wednesday that Giuliani was being “unfairly punished by partisan political activists who are trying to make an example of him” and that the court order is forcing him to “renounce deeply personal belongings.” .

“They are trying to intimidate and intimidate him into silence through weaponizing our justice system and an obvious legal war,” Goodman said in a statement. “Mayor Giuliani has faith that justice will ultimately prevail and he will be completely exonerated, just as he has been in countless other situations.”

(SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Bulletin)