Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, faces new challenges as his attorneys withdrew from representing him in a case involving $148 million in damages for defaming two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss.
The attorneys cited a major disagreement with Giuliani, particularly his refusal to cooperate with the court’s discovery process... Continue reading here ▶
Lawyers Explain Their Decision
In a motion to withdraw, attorney Kenneth Caruso stated that Giuliani refused to participate in electronic discovery.
This included failing to identify or provide access to electronic devices needed for evidence collection. Caruso, along with co-counsel David Labkowski, claimed Giuliani’s lack of cooperation made it “unreasonably difficult” to represent him effectively.
The attorneys initially sought to keep their reasons private, but the court ruled that transparency was necessary to uphold its integrity. Judge Lewis Liman later unsealed parts of the motion, revealing details about Giuliani’s refusal to comply.
Discovery Dispute and Blame Game
The case stems from a defamation judgment awarded to Freeman and Moss after Giuliani made false claims about their role in the 2020 election.
As part of the case, Giuliani was required to respond to discovery requests and hand over specific documents and items. However, he failed to comply, leading to threats of contempt and sanctions from the court.
In response, Giuliani shifted blame to his former attorneys, accusing them of mishandling the case. This claim led Judge Liman to unseal additional portions of the withdrawal motion. The judge noted that Giuliani’s accusations effectively waived attorney-client privilege, allowing the attorneys to defend their actions.
Judge Calls Out Giuliani’s Inconsistencies
Judge Liman criticized Giuliani for misleading the court about the reasons behind his attorneys’ withdrawal.
He clarified that the attorneys quit due to irreconcilable differences, Giuliani’s insistence on unsupportable legal claims, and his failure to cooperate—not because of the volume of discovery requests, as Giuliani claimed.
Liman emphasized that the court is now faced with two conflicting narratives. One suggests Giuliani’s discovery failures were innocent, while the other implies deliberate noncompliance.
The judge stated he could not ignore the declarations from Giuliani’s former attorneys, which challenge the former mayor’s explanations.
Rocky Relationship with the Court
Giuliani’s relationship with Judge Liman has been tense. During a recent hearing, Giuliani accused the judge of bias, calling him an “activist Democrat” despite Liman being appointed by Donald Trump in 2019. Outside the courthouse, Giuliani continued to criticize the judge, questioning his impartiality.
As the case progresses, Giuliani could face further legal consequences, including contempt of court, if the court finds his actions were willful violations of its orders.
