Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was spotted shopping for jewelry in Manhattan, less than a week after he was ordered to pay $148 million in damages for defaming two Georgia election officials.
spotted the 79-year-old entering Madison Jewelers on 3rd Avenue on Tuesday afternoon. He was previously seen leaving his office.
According to its website, the store sells affordable brands like Swatch, Casio and Fossil. More expensive options include Frederique Constant watches, which typically cost more than $1,000.
It's unclear whether the former mayor purchased any items – which could be difficult after the recent ruling.
Giuliani's appearance came just a day after he was sued a second time by election officials Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss for spreading the same “lies” about the 2020 election that they successfully sued him over. Last week he was ordered to pay the woman after a court in Washington DC found him guilty of defamation.
Rudy Giuliani was spotted shopping for jewelry in Manhattan, less than a week after he was ordered to pay $148 million for defaming two Georgia election officials
The former New York mayor was spotted at Madison Jewelers on 3rd Avenue on Tuesday afternoon
The women claimed they could not leave their homes safely after Giuliani accused them of stealing ballots to rig the election for Joe Biden.
But “America’s Mayor” doubled down on the defamatory statements in a recent interview, blaming the “fascist system of the Biden regime” for last week’s ruling.
“They're suing me to lie to them,” Giuliani told Newsmax's Rob Schmitt on Monday night. “I’m sorry, I can’t do it.”
The interview aired hours after Freeman and Moss filed their second lawsuit.
“If I showed you the evidence now, people would see that what I said was absolutely true and that there is support for it,” the 79-year-old continued.
Giuliani claimed the judge made the decision “not based on any evidence, but on the fact that I did not provide some financial documents.”
Although Giuliani declined to testify in his own defense, he insisted he was not given an opportunity to state his case.
He said his claims of fraud were “sustainable” despite no evidence being presented in their favour.
The appearance came just a day after he was sued a second time by Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss for spreading the same “lies” they successfully sued him over
Giuliani reiterated his claims in a recent interview with Newsmax, blaming the “fascist system of the Biden regime” for last week's ruling
The 79-year-old claimed that the judge made his decision “not based on any evidence, but on the fact that I did not hand over some financial documents.”
“I have no doubt that my comments were made and that they were understandable and continue to be understandable today,” Giuliani said. “I simply haven’t had the opportunity to present the evidence we presented.”
He added that he didn't testify because it “didn't look like it would convince anyone.”
The latest lawsuit came after U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell raised concerns about monitoring possible future comments from Giuliani.
“Defendant Giuliani continues to spread the very same lies for which he has already been held accountable,” the lawsuit reads in part.
“(His) statements coupled with his refusal to continue to refrain from making such statements make it clear that he intends to continue his campaign of targeted defamation and harassment.”
However, Giuliani appears to have an ally, former President Donald Trump, on his side.
“I think it's so sad what happened to Rudy,” Trump told during a campaign briefing in West Palm Beach.
He characterized Giuliani as a “great patriot” and “the greatest mayor in the history of New York.”
Giuliani was seen stopping by his office on Tuesday
The mother-daughter voting duo said Giuliani's lies made them afraid to leave their homes, but the former mayor continues to maintain that his claims of cheating in the election are “supportable.”
The total of $148 million appears to far exceed Giuliani's ability to pay as he faces major financial challenges, including several other lawsuits
Guiliani spent the week in a federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., as a jury considered the defamation lawsuit brought by Freeman and Moss, who said he “turned their lives upside down” as part of his efforts to overturn the election in Georgia.
The former New York mayor claimed that the duo retrieved “suitcases” of ballots from under a table during the 2020 election count at State Farm Arena in Atlanta – a claim refuted by an investigation by the Georgia Department of State.
The mother-daughter duo said Giuliani's lies made them afraid to leave their home and left them unable to find work.
The jury deliberated for ten hours before returning with a unanimous verdict awarding $75 million in punitive damages and $20 million each for emotional distress, as well as an additional $16 million to Freeman and $17 million to Moss for defamation of character promised.
The total of $148 million appears to far exceed Giuliani's ability to pay.
Although his net worth has risen to $30 million as he amassed security consulting contracts after 9/11, Giuliani is struggling to sell his $65.5 million Manhattan co-op and fend off a sexual harassment lawsuit defend a claim made by a former employee.
Freeman said outside court Friday that money would “never” solve her problems.
“I can never move back into the house I call home.” I will always have to be careful where I go and who I share my name with. I miss my home. “I miss my neighbors and I miss my name,” she said.
Moss called Giuliani's lies “devastating” and added: “Our greatest wish is that no one – no poll worker, no voter, no school board member or anyone else – ever experience anything like what we went through.”