Judge Ends Rudy Giuliani's Bankruptcy, Legal Battles Resume

A U.S. judge ended Rudy Giuliani's bankruptcy, allowing lawsuits, including sexual harassment and defamation cases, to proceed. Giuliani, who filed for bankruptcy after being ordered to pay $148 million to Georgia election workers he defamed, resolved a fee dispute by putting $100,000 in escrow and plans to sell his New York apartment.

On Friday, a U.S. judge formally concluded Rudy Giuliani's bankruptcy, enabling various lawsuits, including those for sexual harassment and defamation, to move forward. The decision comes after a two-week delay due to Giuliani's failure to settle specific legal fees.

Giuliani, 80, sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last December following a court order to pay $148 million to Georgia election workers whom he had wrongly accused of vote rigging during the 2020 presidential election. This filing temporarily halted legal actions against him and barred the election workers from collecting their judgment.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane terminated Giuliani's bankruptcy after determining the former New York mayor had not made essential financial disclosures. Lane's July 12 ruling had been delayed as Giuliani agreed to deposit $100,000 in escrow while the court decides the exact owed amount. Giuliani's creditors had sought $350,000 for their investigative efforts.

(With inputs from agencies.)