By Dave Collins, Associated Press

A representative of the moving company and lawyers were expected to have access to Rudy Giuliani apartment in Manhattan on Thursday after the former New York City mayor failed to hand over his belongings to two former Georgia election workers who won. a $148 million defamation judgment against him.

The two sides leveled accusations at each other this week when the deadline for Giuliani to hand over the items passed Tuesday without any of the assets changing hands.

US District Judge Lewis Liman Giuliani ordered. last week to give election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, many of their prized possessions. Among them: his $5 million Upper East Side apartment, a 1980 Mercedes once owned by movie star Lauren Bacall, and a variety of other belongings, from his television to a T-shirt signed by the legend. of the New York Yankees, Joe DiMaggio, and 26 luxury watches.

The moving company representative and attorneys for Freeman and Moss were expected to be able to enter Giuliani’s apartment to see what property was there and estimate the cost of moving the items mentioned in Liman’s order, according to a court document. filed Wednesday night by Aaron Nathan, an attorney. for election workers.

In the document, Nathan said he had spoken to Giuliani’s lawyers but they were unwilling to turn over any items and could not “even answer basic questions” about the location of the assets.

Giuliani’s attorney, Kenneth Caruso, had said in a court filing late Tuesday that his client was willing to hand over the assets, but lawyers for Freeman and Moss had given no instructions on how to do so.

Nathan declined to comment Thursday. The Associated Press left phone and email messages Thursday with a representative and lawyers for Giuliani.

Voting in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday afternoon, Giuliani did not confirm that anyone had been at his New York apartment. He said he did not have a chance to defend himself in the Georgia election workers case and said he believes the ruling will be overturned on appeal.

“It will probably be one of the most unfair trials in American history, with the exception of the J6 people,” he said, referring to the criminal cases against Trump supporters who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. .

In fact, Giuliani was given the opportunity to provide the information requested by Freeman and Moss’ lawyers last year, but he did not do so. As punishment, a separate judge found Giuliani responsible for defamation before any trial took place. A trial was subsequently held to determine damages.

On Thursday, Liman ordered both sides to submit a report on the status of any property exchange by Monday. He said he would hold a status conference on Nov. 7 if the assets are not handed over.

Giuliani’s legal defense fund sent emails Thursday asking for donations as he fights the “deep state’s plans to completely bankrupt me.”

“They want my house, my belongings, even all the nostalgic memorabilia I have collected over my 80 years of life,” the email said.

Giuliani’s lawyers had argued that Freeman and Moss should not be allowed to obtain and sell their belongings while their appeal of the $148 million judgment is pending. But Liman ruled against him last week and set the deadline for Tuesday. Giuliani’s appeal is currently before a federal appeals court in Washington.

A spokesman for Giuliani, Ted Goodman, said in a recent statement that “Mayor Giuliani is being unfairly punished by partisan political activists who are trying to make an example of him.”

Also being litigated is whether Giuliani should have to give up his $3 million condo in Palm Beach, Florida, which he says is his primary residence, and several Yankee World Series rings he received while mayor.

Entrepreneur donald trump Unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, Giuliani falsely accused Freeman and Moss of voter fraud, saying they stuffed ballots into suitcases, counted them multiple times and tampered with voting machines.

Freeman and Moss sued for defamation and said the false accusations led to death threats that left them fearing for their lives. A jury in Washington awarded them $148 million last year.

Associated Press writer Stephany Matat in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.