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Former attorney for Donald Trump Rudy Giuliani filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Thursday, listing debts of nearly $500 million. Giuliani, 79, listed losses stemming from tax liabilities and money he owes his attorneys as deals with ongoing lawsuits, as well as millions owed in legal judgments.
Giuliani’s bankruptcy filing came nearly one week after a Washington, D.C., jury awarded $148 million to two Georgia election workers who Giuliani defamed following the 2020 election. The $148 million debt owed for defaming Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Shaye Moss was included in the filing, along with $2 million owed to lawyer Ronald Kuby, $1.36 million owed to Davidoff Hurtcher & Citron LLP for lawsuit expenses and $989,918 in “taxes and other debts owed to government.”
Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss sued Giuliani after he publicized a video that claimed to show them rigging the election in Joe Biden’s favor, following Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election. The women were awarded $20 million each for emotional distress and a total of $75 million in punitive damages. Freeman was awarded $16 million for claims of defamation, while Moss was awarded nearly $17 million.
Giuliani spokesman Ted Goodman said in a statement: “No person could have reasonably believed that Mayor Giuliani would be able to pay such a high punitive amount. Chapter 11 will afford Mayor Giuliani the opportunity and time to pursue an appeal while providing transparency for his finances under the supervision of the bankruptcy court to ensure all creditors are treated equally and fairly throughout the process.”
In addition to his civil suit troubles, Giuliani faces 13 state criminal charges, including a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations charge for his part in an alleged conspiracy to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
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