Judge threatens Rudy Giuliani with 'imprisonment' for repeating 2020 election lies

U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell warned former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani that he could be sent to prison after he allegedly repeated lies claiming that two former Georgia election workers conspired against Donald Trump's White House run in 2020.

In an order issued on Monday, Howell granted Giuliani a 30-day extension, allowing him to explain why he should not be held in contempt for continuing to defame Ruby Freeman and Wandrea ArShaye "Shaye" Moss. Giuliani had agreed not to repeat lies about the two former election workers after they won a $148 million defamation judgment against him.

Freeman and Moss asked that Giuliani be held in contempt after he allegedly violated a permanent injunction forbidding him from claiming the two "engaged in wrong-doing in connection with the 2020 presidential election."

When asking for the 30-day extension, Giuliani claimed he could not retain an attorney to represent him because Howell was "unreasonable and biased about Trump and related matters."

"Some were willing to assist in other cases, but not this one," Giuliani wrote.

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While granting the 30-day extension, Howell reminded Giuliani of the "arsenal of sanctions available to a court," including "imprisonment."

She cautioned Giuliani "that any further extension requests so he can obtain counsel will be viewed with continuing skepticism."

Earlier this year, a lawyer for Freeman and Moss said she would consider seeking prison time for "bankruptcy crimes" committed by the former mayor.