In Washington D.C., a defamation trial against ex-New York mayor and former Trump lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, kicked off. The lawsuit stemmed from claims Giuliani made about election fraud during the 2020 U.S. presidential election, which impacted Georgia-based election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea "Shaye" Moss. Federal judge Beryl Howell had earlier declared Giuliani liable for defamation against Freeman and Moss.
During this civil trial, the jury's sole responsibility was determining the compensation amount Giuliani should pay to the two women, who sought damages and suffering compensation totaling up to $43 million.
Following Trump's 2020 defeat to Democrat Joe Biden, Giuliani emerged as a key figure in the ex-president's attempts to challenge the election results. Giuliani's allegations of election fraud were widely refuted and targeted Freeman and Moss, who worked in Fulton County, Georgia, which includes Atlanta.
Moss, an African-American woman, later testified in the Capitol storming investigation, revealing that she endured racist and violent threats due to false election fraud allegations against her. "This has devastated my life," she claimed.
Giuliani's legal woes don't end with the defamation trial. He also faces charges of election tampering alongside Trump in a criminal case in Atlanta.
Initially respected as New York's mayor and referred to as "America's mayor" after the 9/11 attacks, Giuliani later became a key advisor to Trump. In 2018, Trump hired Giuliani as his private attorney. Following his failed 2020 presidential bid, Giuliani's bizarre attacks on election fraud brought him ridicule and criticism.
Sources: - - Following the defamation case judgment, Giuliani filed for bankruptcy with an estimated $153 million in existing or potential debts. The Georgia election workers will also pursue the remaining $2 million in legal fees Giuliani claims the Trump campaign owes him[1]. - The judge ordered Giuliani to turn over valuable possessions, including his Manhattan penthouse apartment, multiple watches, sports memorabilia, a 1980 Mercedes previously owned by actress Lauren Bacall, a TV, furniture, and other jewelry[1].
[1] "Judge Orders Rudy Giuliani to Hand Over Millions in Assets After Defamation Trial Loss," .
