Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani returned to court Thursday to face an ongoing legal battle involving a $145 million defamation judgment.

The judgment requires Giuliani to hand over valuable possessions to two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss. The women were awarded the amount after Giuliani falsely accused them of election fraud during the 2020 presidential election. Lawyers representing Freeman and Moss argue that Giuliani has not fully complied with the order.

“This is a case for political persecution,” Giuliani said outside the courthouse, maintaining his defiance and frustration with the judgment. “Just the mere fact that it’s a $145 million judgment. I’m very, very disappointed that this judge doesn’t take seriously how ridiculous the judgment is."

The court has ordered Giuliani to give up high-value items, including his $5 million Upper East Side apartment and dozens of luxury watches. Freeman and Moss’ lawyers claim all of the items have not been made available to them, despite the court's ruling.

“I’m going to turn over everything I’m legally required to,” Giuliani said. “But this is all about causing as many distractions and problems as they can.”

The court session included heated exchanges between Giuliani’s lawyers and those representing Freeman and Moss, as both sides disagreed on whether he has been fully compliant with the court’s orders. Giuliani’s legal team argued that any transfer of assets should be paused until the appeal is resolved.

“Everything that’s been ordered today will, in my professional judgment, be temporary,” said Giuliani’s lawyer. “When we win reversal of this verdict in Washington, D.C., it’s all going to come back. It’s called restitution.”

Giuliani also repeated his belief that he did not defame Freeman and Moss.

“I argued the case for Donald J. Trump because I believed in him. They can have all my property, but they’re not going to get me to back off from what I believe—the election in 2020 was fixed, and I think I can prove it. I think I was prevented in proving it.”

As the legal team anticipates a possible reversal of the judgment on appeal, the judge has made it clear that Giuliani must turn over the items in a week or face a contempt of court ruling.