New York, New York - Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani was threatened by a judge to be put in contempt of court as he refuses to turn over his assets in a recent defamation trial he lost.

According to Reuters, a clearly irritated Giuliani appeared in court on Thursday before District Judge Lewis Liman, where he and his attorneys attempted to argue that he failed to turn over his assets because he didn't know where they were.

"If he doesn't comply, then I'm sure that I'm going to get a motion for contempt," Judge Liman said.

"He's not going to be in contempt if he's made efforts, and it's impossible to comply with the order, but that's the standard that he's going to be held to."

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Judge Liman ultimately gave Giuliani one week to turn over the assets he owes.

Giuliani was recently found liable for defaming two Georgia poll workers by insisting they were committing fraud during the 2020 election, and in December 2023, the two women were awarded over $150 million in damages.

The ruling forced the wealthy politician to file for bankruptcy, and Judge Liman ordered him to hand over his assets to help pay the judgment, which include his Manhattan penthouse, a 1980 Mercedes-Benz, and a collection of luxury watches.

During the hearing, Giuliani's attorney argued that the court was being "vindictive" by demanding his client turn over a particular watch given to him by his grandfather.

But Judge Liman called the argument "ridiculous," insisting that "The law is the law."

Judge Liman was forced to call Giuliani into court on Thursday because he has reportedly not been cooperating. On Election Day, he was spotted by journalists driving around in the Mercedes-Benz he was ordered to give up.

Attorneys for the poll workers also claim Giuliani had his Manhattan penthouse emptied out before it was seized.

While speaking to reporters outside the courthouse ahead of the hearing, Giuliani insisted that plaintiffs were "lying completely" about him hiding his assets, and described the trial as "political persecution."