NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� has relinquished dozens of watches and a Mercedes once owned by movie star Lauren Bacall to two former Georgia election workers who won , his lawyer said.
Joseph Cammarata said in a letter filed late Friday in Manhattan federal court that the trove of watches and a ring were delivered by FedEx to a bank in Atlanta, Georgia, in the morning.
The 1980 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 was turned over at an address in Hialeah, Florida, and an undisclosed amount of funds from Giuliani鈥檚 Citibank accounts were also surrendered to the two women who won the judgment, according to the letter.
But Cammarata argued that forcing Giuliani to relinquish his luxury vehicle was 鈥渨holly improper鈥� as the car should have been appraised first.
If the value of the Mercedes turned out to be less than $5,500, then it should be exempt from the judgment under law, he argued in the letter.
If it鈥檚 determined to be worth more than that, then it should be auctioned off, with some of the proceeds going to the two women: Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea 鈥淪haye鈥� Moss.
鈥淭his is how the proper enforcement of these assets should work,鈥� Cammarata wrote in bolded text. 鈥淛ust ordering the vehicle to be turned over to the Plaintiffs without any appraisal has taken away Defendant鈥檚 statutory and constitutional rights.鈥�
The letter also goes on to argue that some of Giuliani鈥檚 other possessions should also be exempt from the judgment under New York and Florida law.
That includes all apparel 鈥� even a shirt signed by New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio that is part of the judgment 鈥� and all household furniture, as well as a refrigerator, radio receiver, television set, computer, cellphone, tableware and cooking utensils, the letter stated.
Cammarata noted there are also legal exemptions for jewelry with a value under $1,325 鈥� meaning his watches and other items should also get appraised 鈥� and for 鈥渢ools of trade,鈥� including 鈥減rofessional instruments, furniture and library鈥� items that don鈥檛 exceed $4,075 in value.
It's not immediately clear what else Giuliani surrendered to meet Friday's deadline. Aaron Nathan, a lawyer for the two women, declined to comment.
Cammarata, in an email, didn't respond to follow-up questions but called Giuliani 鈥渁 victim of political persecution" and said this month's election demonstrated Americans were tired of 鈥渨itch-hunts, indictments, impeachments, prosecutions, convictions, civil cases and judgments.鈥�
鈥淭he people of this great nation have spoken; my legal team and client intend to do the same,鈥� Cammarata wrote. "We will not relent."
The former mayor's $5 million Upper East Side apartment was among the other big ticket items named in the judgment, along with the 26 watches, his 1980 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 and the signed DiMaggio shirt.
On Thursday evening, Giuliani spokesperson Ted Goodman from a FedEx store in Florida, where he showed at least 18 watches and a ring laid out on a table that he said were being turned over.
鈥淭his right here folks, this is the accumulation of 60 years of hard work,鈥� Goodman said as the video panned over the array of black, brown, gold and silver-banded timepieces. 鈥淢any of these watches hold great sentimental value and he鈥檚 being forced to turn all these over under court order.鈥�
鈥淲hat鈥檚 happening is wrong," he continued. "It鈥檚 shameful and we must restore the integrity of the U.S. justice system.鈥�
Cammarata, in his Friday letter, also asked to delay Giuliani鈥檚 January trial over the disposition of some of his assets so that he can attend President-elect Donald Trump鈥檚 inauguration.
He also confirmed that he has stepped in as Giuliani鈥檚 new legal counsel after the previous attorneys asked the court鈥檚 permission this week to , citing disagreements with him.
Giuliani has claimed he was the victim of a 鈥減olitical vendetta鈥� and expects to win on appeal and get back all his possessions.
鈥淭his is a case of political persecution,鈥� he said last week following an appearance in Manhattan federal court. 鈥淭here isn鈥檛 a person (who) doesn鈥檛 know the judgment is ridiculous.鈥�
Representatives for Freeman and Moss said last week that they visited Giuliani鈥檚 Manhattan apartment only to discover it was well before the October deadline.
Giuliani was found liable for defamation for falsely accusing Freeman and Moss of ballot fraud as he pushed Trump鈥檚 unsubstantiated election fraud allegations during the 2020 campaign.
The women said they faced death threats after Giuliani accused them of sneaking in ballots in suitcases, counting ballots multiple times and tampering with voting machines.
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Philip Marcelo, The Associated Press
