Georgia election workers ask court for control of Giuliani’s assets over $148m judgment

Two Georgia election workers asked a federal judge on Friday to give them control over Rudy Giuliani's assets as they sought to enforce a $148m defamation judgment the former New York City mayor owes them.

According to a court filing on Friday, lawyers for Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss want a court to give them control over Giuliani's New York City apartment, estimated to be worth more than $5m, as well as his condominium in Palm Beach. They also want him to turn over personal property, including a 1980 Mercedes-Benz SL500, jewelry, luxury watches and sports memorabilia, including Yankees World Series rings and jerseys signed by Joe DiMaggio and Reggie Jackson.

They are also seeking the right to $2m in legal fees Giuliani says he is owed by Donald Trump's campaign and the Republican National Committee.

They also want a separate order from the court allowing them to take control over assets Giuliani does not turn over.

The move comes after Giuliani has spent months trying to avoid paying the $148m judgment he owes Freeman and Moss. He is appealing the defamation judgment and tried to declare bankruptcy, but the case was dismissed after a judge said Giuliani had not been transparent about his finances. While Giuliani has insisted he does not have much money, his continued high spending has raised eyebrows.

"At every step, Mr. Giuliani has chosen evasion, obstruction, and outright disobedience. That strategy reaches the end of the line here," lawyers for Freeman and Moss wrote in the filing.

"The appeal of the objectively unreasonable $148 million verdict hasn't even been heard, yet opposing counsel continues to take steps designed to harass and intimidate Mayor Rudy Giuliani," Ted Goodman, a Giuliani spokesperson said in a text message. "This lawsuit has always been designed to censor and bully the mayor, and to deter others from exercising their right to speak up and to speak out."