The judge said he was “not satisfied” and later called Giuliani’s efforts to search for related emails and messages a “vague mess.”
The court considered a variety of issues about the evidence in the case, but much of the focus was on recent court filings that the vendor had no further searches for emails and other records stored in electronic databases. I focused on Mr. Giuliani’s argument that he could not. $320,000 to make it possible. The former mayor and U.S. Attorney and Justice Department official said he could not afford that amount.
Howell said Giuliani’s “poverty claim” meant plaintiffs had a right to know his financial situation.
Giuliani’s attorney, Joseph Sibley, said some personal information was provided to the plaintiff, including court filings detailing Giuliani’s obligations in his 2019 divorce from third wife Judith Nathan. said it shouldn’t.
But Howell said the plaintiffs have the right to know Giuliani’s financial situation, including divorce-related payments, before deciding whether to cover the costs of document research in the lawsuit. In order to comply with discovery obligations, parties are usually required to handle their own costs.
“I think it has to do with the valuation of his net worth,” the judge said.
Mr. Giuliani interjected at various points in the lengthy hearing, sometimes despite Mr. Sibley’s signals to ask his client to refrain. The former mayor blamed the fact that the FBI seized all of Giuliani’s electronic devices in April 2021 while prosecutors investigated possible violations of the Foreign Agency Act related to his activities in Ukraine. said it had become difficult to comply with document requests in defamation lawsuits against polling workers. .
“The FBI took all the electronics in my apartment and law firm,” Giuliani said, often reminding the judge of his time as a federal prosecutor. “I’ve done this job once in my life, and it was as hard as it could be.”
Mr Giuliani was not charged in the investigation and the investigation was closed.
“I have been working on this issue for 50 years. I understand the obligation,” added an outraged Giuliani. “I have nothing to hide. I want them to see it all.
Giuliani explained that he would run various keywords himself through his social media apps and other accounts, but Howell questioned its thoroughness and accuracy. “This manual search cannot be verified,” she said.
Merrill Govanski, a lawyer for the pollsters, said the plaintiffs received emails from third parties who sent the subpoenas to or from Giuliani, which Giuliani submitted during the lawsuit. said no.
“We think it’s time for him to get professional help,” Gavanski told Howell.
Sibley told the judge that Giuliani’s former lawyer was trying to make payment plans with the firms whose data the FBI collected, but could not provide a timetable for dispute resolution.
“This is torture by process,” Giuliani muttered as he left the courtroom during the intermission. He then lodged a more modest complaint with the judge.
“This is punishment by process. …I understand what they are doing,” declared the former mayor.
Howell, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, had ordered Giuliani to appear in person at Friday’s hearing. This is also rare, as lawyers usually discuss such matters without the client’s presence.
The judge has ordered Mr. Giuliani to detail his financial situation and gave him a deadline later this month to identify all equipment and other forms of record keeping that Mr. Giuliani used during the period related to the lawsuit.
In the lawsuit contested Friday, Giuliani conspired with Freeman and Moss to remove observers from polling stations in Atlanta, hiding piles of fraudulent ballots on election night and introducing them into the counting machines. has been accused of defaming Freeman and Moss. The women claim the allegations are nonsense and have led to harassment.
An earlier version of the lawsuit also sought damages against the company that operates One America News, its two owners and an employee who worked closely with Giuliani. One America News officials reached a settlement with Freeman and Moss about a year ago, leaving Giuliani as the only remaining defendant in the lawsuit.
After the hearing, Giuliani refused to speak to reporters about the documentary dispute. “We do not comment on discovery disputes,” he said.
Outside court, however, he argued on a range of other subjects. He has portrayed himself as a victim of a “fascist state” seeking to punish those who provided legal counsel to former President Donald Trump.
“Your rights have been seriously violated by the fascist tactics used to win Donald Trump, one of which is persecuting his lawyer,” Giuliani said.