Additional Coverage:
- Judge may haul Giuliani back to court over his ‘troubling’ refusal to share finances (newsbreak.com)
Rudy Giuliani’s prolonged bankruptcy proceedings persist, and he may now be required to provide testimony regarding his elusive financial details. Earlier, Judge Sean Lane dismissed Giuliani’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing; however, Giuliani has yet to settle all terms of the dismissal with his creditors, notably refusing to cover the case’s administrative costs, which are essential for the case’s closure.
Giuliani’s legal team claims he lacks the funds to settle these fees. In contrast, an attorney representing two of Giuliani’s creditors, election workers who are owed $148 million, expresses uncertainty over Giuliani’s true financial state due to his lack of transparency.
On a recent Thursday, Judge Lane instructed those involved in the case to propose their next steps by July 31. Citing no clear resolution and Giuliani’s historical financial opacity, Lane believes a thorough financial examination is necessary, potentially requiring Giuliani to testify under oath.
Lane mentioned the possibility of reversing the dismissal if Giuliani continues to avoid paying the mandatory administrative expenses. He emphasizes that, notwithstanding Giuliani’s claimed financial incapacity, the former mayor possesses significant assets, including two high-value apartments, which could be leveraged to meet his obligations.
Giuliani’s properties include a New York City condo, intermittently listed for sale, valued at approximately $5.6 million, and a Florida condo valued at about $3.5 million. Giuliani’s legal counsel argued against selling these properties, claiming it would leave him homeless.
The case has been marred by shortcomings in Giuliani’s financial disclosures, noted discrepancies in payments concerning his Florida property, unapproved payments to an alleged girlfriend, and non-compliance with information requests. The possibility of appointing a trustee to manage Giuliani’s finances, as advocated by the creditors’ committee, has been flagged by the judge as a potential recourse.
These developments follow revelations of Giuliani’s lavish spending, including $30,000 in one week, primarily on expenses related to his properties, along with amounts directed towards marketing services and tech companies, following an incident at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Amid these controversies, filings indicate that Giuliani traveled first-class to Milwaukee, funded by FrankSpeech’s president, a platform where Giuliani hosts a show, affirming that the expenses were entirely covered by the company.