By Breaking Celebrity News Staff

Real Housewives of New Jersey star Joe Giudice did an abrupt about turn in court Monday and abandoned his request to have his millions of dollars of debts forgiven in federal bankruptcy court.

The reality star made his surprise decision after choosing to invoke the Fifth Amendment to protect himself against self-incrimination during some heated questioning by his creditors’ trustee regarding income and assets he is accused of hiding from the court.

According to court papers obtained by The Star-Ledger: “The defendant Giuseppe Giudice acknowledges his desire to resolve the matter without the need for further inquiry or litigation, and without making any further admissions.”

As a rule of thumb, if it is discovered that a debtor is hiding assets or income a criminal referral is made to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the bankruptcy fraud unit of the U.S. Trustee Program, which could result in criminal charges.

Joe’s wife