Divorce judge says 'hero' Giuliani did not spend enough time with children
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.New York's former mayor Rudolph Giuliani may be a hero to his city, to his country and to most of the world – but not to the judge who is handling his divorce case.
In a ruling this week, Judge Judith Gische denied Mr Giuliani joint custody of his 15-year-old son Andrew and ordered that neither the boy nor his sister Caroline, 12, be allowed to make overnight visits with their father if his partner, Judith Nathan, is there.
Basically, Judge Gische argued, the former mayor had been too busy with his job, particularly after the terrorist attacks of 11 September, to tend to his family duties.
"During the eight years he was in office, and more profoundly in the last four months, his pressing public obligations limited the time he had to spend with his children." Andrew and Caroline, she wrote, "need to establish a new routine of time spent with their father without competing for his attention".
As matters stood, they did not have a "comfortable familiar relationship" with Ms Nathan. They were not psychologically ready to have overnight stays when she was in the house, "and it is unclear exactly when they will be ready," the judge ruled.
Mr Giuliani therefore will have the same visitation rights as before: every other weekend, and separate midweek dinners with each child.
The judgment, and the reactions of the interested parties to it, do not bode well for the divorce case itself, which begins on 5 June.
While Mr Giuliani's estranged wife, Donna Hanover, welcomed the decision, his own lawyer attacked it as "just plain inaccurate.
"He has been to every one of these children's events except one since 11 September," he said. "Very few fathers in New York could match that record." He indicated he would appeal the ruling.
In the meantime, the former mayor and Ms Hanover have failed to reach a deal of their own on custody.
In fact, as the judge noted, "child-related disputes have only intensified," and "the court no longer has any reason to be optimistic".
The court is appointing a mental health professional to make the final decision on permanent custody.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments