The judge presiding over Rudy Giuliani’s bankruptcy case said Thursday that he may have to reconsider his decision. terminate the case due to the former mayor not paying some of the creditors’ costs.
Judge Sean Lane of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York said he would fire Giuliani. filing for bankruptcy protection After locating former President Donald Trump’s one-time lawyer, he failed to hand over key financial information despite multiple subpoenas.
In The order came in on ThursdayLane said he hasn’t yet Giuliani dismissed the case for failure to pay administrative costs, which was “a requirement of the law to dismiss the case.”
Dismissal of the case would allow two former election workers in Georgia to begin collecting a $146 million judgment against Giuliani. repeatedly slandered After the 2020 elections.
On Thursday, the judge noted that Giuliani offered the creditors’ accountants a lien on his New York apartment, which is on the market, “with the understanding that such payments will be made only if and when the New York apartment is sold.”
While Giuliani has said he doesn’t have the funds to pay, Lane says it’s hard to tell if that’s true because Giuliani “failed to be transparent about his finances, and so it’s unclear what funds he has” to pay these administrative costs.
The judge said he could schedule a hearing to determine Giuliani’s financial status in order to dismiss the case, along with ordering unpaid administrative costs. Lane said it “could involve disclosure of documents and testimony under oath” by Giuliani, but would likely reflect “failed efforts at financial transparency that have stymied the case to date.”
Another option, he said, would be to proceed with the bankruptcy and appoint a trustee to oversee Giuliani’s financial affairs and “appropriately immediately liquidate assets such as the New York apartment.” He asked all interested parties, including Giuliani, by July 31 “to provide their views on the most appropriate way forward.”
Other parties in the case include former Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea “Shaye” Moss., are Giuliani’s biggest creditors. Giuliani filed for bankruptcy in December, just days after a jury awarded the mother and daughter approx. 150 million dollars For Giuliani’s false allegations of election fraud against them.
A representative for Giuliani did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday night.