Judge Likely to End Giuliani's Bankruptcy, Legal Battles Await

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane is expected to end Rudy Giuliani's bankruptcy, allowing defamation and harassment lawsuits to proceed. Giuliani, former lawyer to Donald Trump, filed for bankruptcy after being ordered to pay $148 million to election workers he falsely accused in 2020. Legal challenges loom for Giuliani.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane indicated on Wednesday that he would likely end Rudy Giuliani's bankruptcy, a decision that would pave the way for defamation, sexual harassment, and other lawsuits to proceed against Donald Trump's former attorney.

Speaking at a court hearing in White Plains, New York, Lane said he would rule on Friday concerning requests from Giuliani and his creditors on the bankruptcy's future. The 80-year-old Giuliani filed for bankruptcy in December after being ordered to pay $148 million to two Georgia election workers he falsely accused of vote-rigging in the 2020 election, won by Joe Biden. The bankruptcy has since frozen further lawsuits tied to Giuliani's work for Trump in challenging the 2020 election outcome.

Last week, Giuliani sought to convert his bankruptcy into a straightforward liquidation, necessitating the sale of nearly all his assets. Creditors are divided between seeking a trustee to manage Giuliani's finances and businesses, and expelling him from bankruptcy altogether, both posing significant risks for the embattled attorney.