Rudy Giuliani, the ex-mayor of New York and a former ally of former President Donald Trump, has been slapped with a hefty fine of $148 million (approximately €137 million) in damages. This verdict comes after a grand jury found him guilty of defaming Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, two election assistants from Georgia.
Freeman and Moss, who are mother and daughter, served as election workers in the 2020 presidential election. Post-election, Giuliani fabricated allegations against them, claiming that they had discarded ballots for Trump and added fake ones for Democratic candidate Joe Biden. These unfounded accusations led to Moss and her mother receiving national attention, as they were brutally targeted by Trump supporters due to their appearance in a circulated video.
Threats and death wishes became a common occurrence for the two women, who testified before the congressional committee investigating the Capitol attack last year. Moss expressed her feelings, stating, "I don't want to go anywhere anymore. I question everything." Due to the relentless harassment, they decided to sue Giuliani for damages, accusing him of ruining their reputations and spewing racist slurs without merit. Both women are of African descent.
Initially, a judge ruled that Giuliani had indeed defamed the two women. However, the amount of compensation was still undecided. Giuliani refrained from testifying during the trial but maintained his stance, claiming that his statements were true and he had no regrets. The jury, however, saw otherwise and awarded the women a significantly higher sum than they had initially demanded – far beyond the $43 million they had sought.
Besides this legal issue, Giuliani struggles with other allegations related to election fraud in Georgia. He is also charged with attempted election fraud, having served as an advisor for Trump during his presidency. Giuliani's reputation, once respected in the United States, plummeted in recent years due to the mockery his public appearances invoked. During the 9/11 attacks, as the mayor of New York, he served as the chief crisis coordinator.
This ruling against Giuliani sparked various debates across US media. Some viewed the verdict as a testament to justice and respect for democratic values, while others criticized the amount of compensation deemed excessive. Additionally, it fueled conversations about the role of women in the political landscape of the USA, notably the impact of the 2020 presidential election on women voters.
The defamation case has also generated discussions around the need for stricter media regulations and accountability in the USA. New York, where Giuliani gained prominence during the 9/11 attacks, now grapples with the backlash from his defamatory statements, further tarnishing its image. As a result, the landscape for future legal battles surrounding defamation and election-related crimes in the United States has been set.
