Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani speaks during a news conference outside the federal courthouse in Washington, Dec. 15, 2023 (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana).
A judge’s ultimatum prompted a quick about-face from Rudy Giuliani as the former New York City mayor prioritized a potential trip to Washington, D.C., later this month over remotely appearing in court for a contempt hearing being held in the nation’s capital later this week.
On Wednesday, Giuliani cited his health and his apparent high value as an assassination target for the Islamic Republic of Iran in a bid to forego an in-person attendance at the proceedings slated for Friday.
In a terse court order released later that same day, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell gave Giuliani a choice. The court conditionally granted the digital appearance request on the defendant attesting, under oath, that he had not traveled out of Florida in the past 30 days and would not travel for the next 30 days — except for mandatory legal reasons.
In other words, the defendant’s remote appearance was conditioned on missing President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
