Rudy Giuliani said his non-appearance at a Manhattan court hearing Friday to hash out how much he owes his ex-wife Judith was just a misunderstanding.
“I never got a notice,” the former New York City mayor told The Post on Saturday. “I didn’t know about it.
“I have never missed a court date. I am a pretty busy guy — one of the busiest in the United States — and I have never missed a court date.”
Judith Giuliani claims he has fallen behind on payments stemming from their 2019 divorce settlement and that Rudy needs to pony up $262,000. On Friday Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Michael Katz seemed inclined to agree, warning that if Rudy Giuliani didn’t come up with at least $225,000 plus lawyer fees by early next month he would be thrown in the clink.
“If the amount is not paid by that date, I’m going to be forced — unfortunately because it’s not something I want to do — I’m going to be forced to remand the defendant into custody,” the jurist said at the Friday hearing.
“There is no dispute that the judgment has not been complied with because the defendant admitted last time that he owes money,” Katz added. “He clearly has failed to meet his obligations.”
While Rudy Giuliani admits he has been delinquent on some payments, he maintains the true amount owed to Judith is in the “$75,000 to $100,000” range and promised that he will be able to produce the checks to prove it.
Rudy said he planned to make it right — and that he had no intention of going to the slammer.
“I am going to have to file a motion to explain this and ask that [Judge Katz] … lift the threat about going to jail,” he said adding that he was “disappointed” by the judge’s comments.
“Even if I owed her $275,000, I’ve already paid her 10 times that,” Rudy griped, noting he had covered nursing home expenses for his former mother-in-law.
“I have voluntarily assumed the payment of her mother’s nursing home expenses for the rest of her life and that has cost some months $12,000, or $15,000.” he said.
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