Rudy Giuliani blows off court after judge order him to pay $235k to ex-wife
Rudy Giuliani was a no-show at his Manhattan court hearing where a judge ordered him to pay $235,000 in late divorce payments to his ex-wife or be thrown in jail.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Michael Katz passed down his judgment on Friday in the case between Giuliani, 78, and his ex-wife, Judith, 67, who claimed he’d fallen behind on $262,000 owed to her under the terms of their heated 2019 divorce, the New York Post reports.
‘If the amount is not paid by that date, I’m going to be forced — unfortunately because it’s not something I want to do — I’m going to be forced to remand the defendant into custody,’ Katz said.
The judge noted that because Giuliani wasn’t in court or disputed Judith’s claims, he ultimately granted the ex-wife’s request for the former New York City mayor to fork over a default payment of $225,000, plus another $10,000 for legal fees.
‘He clearly has failed to meet his obligations,’ Katz said. ‘Unfortunately, I’m constrained to find him in contempt.’
A Manhattan Supreme Court judge ordered Rudy Giuliani (right) to pay $235,000 to ex-wife Judith (left) for late divorce payments
The judge condemned Giuliani’s failure to appear in court on Friday, finding him in contempt and warning the former NYC mayor that he would be put in jail if he fails to pay his ex-wife
It’s the latest in legal trouble’s facing the former Trump attorney, who is also being sued for $1.3 billion by Dominion Voting Systems for $1.3 billion over his founded claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged. Pictured: Giuliani (left) together with Donald Trump in 2016
Dror Bikel, Judith’s lawyer, told the Post that it was ‘outrageous’ for Giuliani not to show up to court and that he was grateful Katz ordered the defendant be put in jail if he doesn’t pay up.
‘For him to snub his nose at the court and not bother showing up and appearing in court — God forbid somebody would do that to him when he was US attorney,’ Bikel said.
Representatives for Giuliani did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
Giuliani had previously said that his wife’s estimates about he owing her $260,000 was a ‘gross exaggeration,’ saying he actually owed her $50,000 instead.
‘I do owe her money but I don’t owe her $260,000.’
Judith had filed the lawsuit at the Manhattan Supreme Court last month, claiming Giuliani had been ‘inconsistent and sporadic’ with the payments he was required to give her per their divorce agreement.
The couple split in 2018 after 15-years of marriage, which was followed by a fiery court battle over their $30 million fortune.
As per their divorce agreement, Giuliani agreed to pay his ex-wife $5,000 a month to provide her a housekeeper or assistant, as well as $200,000 for an unsold $3.3 million property they owned.
Judith claimed that when Giuliani attempted to pay $10,000 of the $45,000 owed last year in back pay for the help, the check bounced.
Judith and Giuliani were married for 15 years before their heated divorce, with saw a court battle play out over their $30 million fortune
Along with the lawsuits, Giuliani also had his licensee suspended in New York and Washington, D.C., as he faces election-related ethics charges
Despite his recent legal troubles, Judith is ‘confident’ that Rudy can afford to pay her the requested through multiple properties he owns in New York City and Palm Beach, Florida.
Along with with ex-wife’s lawsuit, Giuliani is also being sued by Dominion Voting Systems for $1.3 billion over his founded claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged.
Giuliani had spearheaded legal efforts by former President Donald Trump to overturn the electoral results in multiple swing states, including Georgia, that were won by Joe Biden.
The former Trump lawyer also had his licensee suspended in New York and Washington, D.C., as he faces election-related ethics charges.
His passionate promotion of the claim that the election was stolen culminated in Giuliani speaking at a press conference with hair dye dripping down the side of his face.
‘From America’s hero to now a man whose hair dye is running down his face, what happened?’ Judith was asked by Inside Edition last week.
‘It breaks my heart,’ she answered. ‘It’s sad.’
Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor on New York City, married Judith Nathan, a nurse, in 2003
Judith said that it has been painful seeing her ex-husband fall from grace after previously being held ‘America’s Mayor’ over his leadership of New York City through the September 11 terrorist attack.
‘I can certainly tell you – the person you see now is not the man I married,’ she said.
Judith said that a turning point was her then-husband’s failed bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, losing out to John McCain.
She said Donald Trump, a contemporary of Rudy Giuliani’s who had known the Brooklyn-born mayor for decades, agreed to help him get over the electoral defeat.
‘We stayed at Mar-A-Lago. We were given a place to go where Rudy could have sanctuary and recover,’ she said.
She said he was delighted to be asked by Trump to serve, in 2018, as his lawyer.
‘There becomes this thing I watched happen to him – that power just becomes extremely addictive,’ she said.
‘One of the other things Rudy also loves is the limelight.’