### Giuliani Clashes with Judge Over Property Turnover in Defamation Case

In a tense courtroom encounter, Rudy Giuliani, the beleaguered former mayor of New York City, voiced his frustration after being reprimanded by a federal judge for failing to comply with court orders. The subsequent hearing session saw Judge Lewis Liman refuse Giuliani's plea to delay an upcoming trial, stemming from a defamation case involving two election workers.

During the Manhattan court session, Judge Liman chastised Giuliani for repeatedly ignoring deadlines and showing a lack of due diligence in providing required evidence. This included handing over the title to a 1980 Mercedes Benz ordered to be transferred to the defamed women. Giuliani, visibly upset, interrupted the proceedings to defend his actions, arguing that his financial assets had been immobilized and contesting the claim of negligence.

"I don't have a car, a credit card, or any cash," Giuliani lamented from the defense table, explaining that his bank accounts were frozen and that he could not access his finances, including his Social Security account. Judge Liman, however, warned Giuliani against such outbursts in future hearings, indicating severe consequences for noncompliance.

The judge further dictated that Giuliani must follow court orders earnestly, emphasizing that his social commitments, such as those related to Donald Trump's inauguration, were not valid reasons for missing court dates. Giuliani’s current legal representative, Joseph Cammarata, had requested a postponement of hearings to early next year, citing ongoing legal pressures and the risk of "potential incarceration" for his client. However, Liman firmly rejected these concessions, highlighting the need for Giuliani to prioritize compliance.

The trial, slated for January 16, will delve into Giuliani's efforts to prevent the seizure of his Florida condominium under the terms of a nearly $150 million defamation judgment. This judgment, awarded to Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, came after a jury ruled that Giuliani had made false claims about their involvement in election fraud, leading to severe harassment against the mother-daughter pair.

Giuliani's attempts to settle the enormous judgment through bankruptcy were dismissed, and the plaintiffs are now seeking to enforce property turnover orders. Their legal team aims to claim assets including cash accounts, Giuliani's Mercedes convertible, and his penthouse. Criticism has mounted against Giuliani for stalling the process, with allegations of being obstructive.

At a sidewalk press conference last week, Cammarata branded the defamation verdict as "unconstitutional," even as threats were supposedly made against his office for taking the case. Judge Liman dismissed these complaints, particularly given the publicity around Cammarata’s statements.

Additionally, suspicions have been raised over financial maneuvers involving newly discovered bank accounts and LLCs allegedly set up by Giuliani's associates, purportedly to shield assets from court orders. Following the courtroom clash, Giuliani held a brief press conference asserting that his current legal and financial woes were politically motivated, linked to his efforts to expose incriminating information about Hunter Biden.

Unrepentant about his defamatory statements, Giuliani expressed regret not for his actions but for the ongoing legal challenges he faces, portraying them as a form of persecution.