Rudy Giuliani's attorney responded to Monday's decision holding the former New York City mayor and close Donald Trump ally in contempt of court with a furious, extended rant alleging the entire ruling was a miscarriage of justice.
"It’s tragic to watch as our justice system has been turned into a total mockery, where we have charades instead of actual hearings and trials," said Ted Goodman in a statement provided to Raw Story. "Unfortunately, it’s getting worse and worse because so few members of the legal community are willing to speak up or do anything about the weaponization of our justice system, and that needs to change."
Goodman further alleged that the ruling was retaliation by associates of President Joe Biden's son Hunter, whom Giuliani long sought to make the center of a corruption scandal, using the contents of a laptop he had obtained from a repair shop.
"Let’s be clear. This case was brought by Hunter Biden’s former law partner Michael Gottleib — a current partner at Willkie, Farr & Gallagher — who claimed he was taking on this case out of the goodness of his heart. Why is Willkie, Farr & Gallagher pouring so many resources, and using so many lawyers on this case to try and destroy Mayor Rudy Giuliani? It appears that they are a part of this ongoing politically motivated vendetta against Mayor Giuliani," said Goodman.
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He continued: "Willkie, Farr & Gallagher might be happy to fight to take away Mayor Giuliani’s most cherished personal belongings including his signed baseball jersey of his childhood hero and his grandfather's pocket watch, but they can never take away his extraordinary record of public service, where he lifted more people out of poverty than any modern mayor, took down the Mafia, cleaned up Wall Street, saved New York City and comforted the nation following September 11th," Goodman concluded.
The contempt hearing centered on Giuliani's conduct during discovery in a defamation suit brought by Atlanta-based poll workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, whom Giuliani had claimed without any evidence were stuffing ballot boxes in 2020, resulting in extensive harassment and threats against them. Giuliani was found liable for just over $148 million in a default judgment, although even after that he continued making the same claims until finally agreeing to stop last May.
Throughout the process, Giuliani failed to properly respond to requests for information as part of discovery. U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, who was appointed by Trump, ultimately found this behavior constituted civil contempt of court, blasting Giuliani for his "preposterous" attitude and "blithe disregard" for the court's authority.