Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City and current personal lawyer of former President Donald Trump, has become the latest high profile individual to declare bankruptcy while facing a defamation lawsuit.
Mr. Giuliani, who recently ran for president in 2020, has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York federal court earlier this week due to a hefty $1.3 million judgement from civil defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by InfoWars host, Fox News commentator and one-time Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, after Giuliani made false claims about Cain’s role in the 2016 election and Ukraine.
During a press conference in November 2019, Giuliani suggested that Cain accepted a “bribe” from Ukrainian oligarch Konstantin Kilimnik. Cain filed suit against Giuliani three days later, asserting that Giuliani had made false statements and deliberately tried to smear Cain’s reputation in order to influence the political conversation.
Though Giuliani attempted to have the suit dismissed, the case ultimately went to trial in August 2020, resulting in a unanimous verdict against Giuliani and the judgement of $1.3 million. Described by the judge as a “calculated and malicious attempt to influence the national election,” Giuliani was unable to fully post his bond and appeal the case.
Though the payout goes to Cain for now, Giuliani has stated that in the coming months he will be filing objections to the judgement from with the assistance of his bankruptcy attorneys.
Rudy Giuliani is only the latest high profile figure to invoke bankruptcy protections due to a court issued judgement. Earlier this year, the attorneys of Donald Trump himself filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy due to a civil suit brought against the former president in New York.
