Judge Ends Rudy Giuliani's Bankruptcy, Clearing Path for Lawsuits

A U.S. judge has ended Rudy Giuliani's bankruptcy protection on Friday, allowing defamation, sexual harassment, and other lawsuits to proceed against him. Giuliani filed for bankruptcy after being ordered to pay $148 million to Georgia election workers. The ruling frees Giuliani to appeal this judgment.

In a significant legal decision, a U.S. judge on Friday concluded Rudy Giuliani's bankruptcy proceedings, opening the door for defamation, sexual harassment, and other claims to be pursued against Donald Trump's former attorney.

Giuliani, aged 80, initially sought bankruptcy protection last December following a Washington, D.C., court's mandate to pay $148 million to two Georgia election workers. The court found that Giuliani had falsely accused them of vote rigging during the 2020 presidential election, won by Democrat Joe Biden. His bankruptcy filing had temporarily halted the collection of this judgment and froze other related lawsuits.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane's dismissal in White Plains, New York, allows Giuliani's creditors to revive their lawsuits but also enables Giuliani to contest the substantial defamation ruling. Among his creditors are ex-employee Noelle Dunphy, who alleges sexual assault and wage theft, and voting machine companies Dominion and Smartmatic, both of which have filed defamation suits against Giuliani. He has denied all allegations.

(With inputs from agencies.)