Rudy Giuliani seeks bankruptcy after order to pay $148M in defamation case

globalnews.ca:

Rudy Giuliani filed for bankruptcy on Thursday, just days after he was ordered to pay $148 million to two former Georgia election workers he falsely accused of fraud as he worked to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential election loss.Guiliani, who was known as “America’s mayor” for his leadership of New York after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, faces a crush of debts stemming from his work on former President Trump’s behalf.

He also faces criminal charges in Georgia.In a filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York, Giuliani said he had between $100 million and $500 million in liabilities and $1 million to $10 million in assets.A spokesperson for Giuliani said the bankruptcy filing will give him time to appeal the $148 million penalty and ensure that other creditors are treated fairly.“No person could have reasonably believed that Mayor Rudy Giuliani would be able to pay such a high punitive amount,” spokesperson Ted Goodman said.U.S.

bankruptcy proceedings can enable people and companies to wipe away or reorganize their debts, and Giuliani’s filing will likely pause all of the pending lawsuits against him.However, it may not allow him to duck the money he owes the election workers, as judges have ruled that defamation penalties cannot be discharged if a debtor has engaged in “willful and malicious” conduct.Aside from the former election workers, Giuliani also listed President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, and a former employee, Noelle Dunphy, as creditors.Hunter Biden has sued Giuliani for violating his privacy over data allegedly taken from his laptop, while Dunphy has sued him for sexual assault, harassment and wage theft. Giuliani has denied the allegations.Dunphy’s lawyer Justin Kelton said they would not be