Original Article:
Rudy Giuliani's Well-Deserved Comeuppance
Writer: Sophia Nelson
A jury handed down a heavy sentence to Rudy Giuliani on Friday, ordering him to pay $148 million to Freeeman and Moss, claiming they had falsely accused them of manipulating the election in 2020. These are words I never imagined I would hear or write while watching Giuliani pursue evil-doers in New York City, fight against crime, and expose organized crime.
Following the 2020 election, when President Donald Trump lost Georgia to Joe Biden, Giuliani unapologetically spread vile and brutal stories about the two Black women, a mother and daughter from Fulton County. These false claims included assertions that they stuffed ballot boxes with fraudulent votes and gave USB sticks to manipulate the count. A state investigation found that the alleged ballot boxes were merely regular voting booths and the USB sticks were just breath mints. However, these false claims spread online and in news reports, leading to numerous threats and harassment against Freeman and Moss.
In their testimonies, Freeman and Moss described their lives being forever changed by racist insults, death threats, disturbing text messages, and harassing phone calls. Moss even went so far as to quit her job as an election worker – a position she loved – after suffering from panic attacks and later being diagnosed with acute stress disorder and severe depression. Freeman sold her house due to security concerns and even lived in her car.
Freeman received a $16.17 million award for libel and another $20 million for emotional distress. Her daughter Moss was granted $16.998 million in libel damages and $20 million in emotional distress damages. The jury also awarded them collective punitive damages totaling $75 million. Although the final amount they will receive remains to be seen, as Giuliani is expected to file an appeal, this decision underscored the extent of the damage Giuliani allegedly inflicted on Freeman and Moss.
Although a judge had already declared Giuliani guilty of contempt of court last summer, the jury's decision to award damages further highlighted the extent of the harm Giuliani is believed to have caused. Despite his defiant attitude towards the court's ruling, Giuliani stood firm, telling reporters after the trial, "I regret it not at all."
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In my opinion, this is yet another example of the phrase "what doesn't touch Trump." Giuliani has been entangled with the Trump movement for years, and the consequences have been severe. Besides bankruptcy looming, Giuliani is also charged in the Georgia elections subversion case, facing 13 felony charges, including breaking Georgia's criminal statutes, giving false testimony, and inciting disorderly conduct. (Giuliani has not yet admitted guilt.)
For Freeman and Moss, this victory is crucial. Although it may not bother Giuliani as much as he claims or make him regret his actions, his actions are disgraceful not only in the court of public opinion but are now also being subjected to legal scrutiny.
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Many people believe that Giuliani's sentence is a fitting consequence for his actions.
The jury's decision to award substantial damages to Freeman and Moss emphasizes the widespread view that Giuliani's actions were extremely harmful and are not without repercussions.
Revised Article:
Giuliani's Justified Punishment
You might say that when you watched Giuliani fighting crime back in the day, you never imagined hearing words like, "Rudy must pay $148 million for defaming two election workers." But here we are, facing these harsh realities.
Just after the 2020 presidential election, when Donald Trump lost Georgia to Joe Biden, Giuliani spread false and unfounded accusations about the two Black women, a mother and daughter, Freeman, and Moss, who worked in Fulton County. The false claims, which included allegations that they stuffed ballot boxes with fraudulent votes, led to an avalanche of death threats, racist insults, and harassment against them. The FBI found no evidence to back up Giuliani's claims.
Despite this, the false information spread like wildfire on social media and in news reports, exacerbating the situation for Freeman and Moss. In their testimonies, Freeman described feeling the need to sell her home due to security concerns and even living in her car for a time. As a result, the jury awarded her $16.17 million in damages for libel and another $20 million in emotional distress damages. Moss received a similar verdict, totaling around $63.998 million in damages.
Giuliani, however, remained defiant, telling reporters afterwards, "Regret it? I regret it not at all."
Enrichment Data:
- Rudy Giuliani, who served as the Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001, took on a prominent role in former President Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign.
- In the aftermath of the 2020 election, Giuliani spread false allegations of election fraud against election workers, including Ruby Freeman and her granddaughter, Wandrea "Shaye" Moss.
- In August 2023, a jury found Giuliani liable for defaming Freeman and Moss, awarding them substantial damages.
- Giuliani is facing several legal charges, including criminal charges in the state of Georgia for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 election results.
Revised Sentences:
Nowadays, hearing Giuliani's name combined with a $148 million fine for misrepresenting two election workers is a shocking turn of events. After the 2020 presidential election, Giuliani's false claims against an innocent Black mother and daughter led to an onslaught of racist insults, death threats, and harassment.
However, following a jury's verdict in 2023, the mother and daughter were awarded damages totaling more than $148 million. Despite the harsh sentence, Giuliani stood firm, brushing off the verdict and maintaining his innocence.
Restructured and Adjusted Paragraphs:
To begin, the unimaginable scenario of Rudy Giuliani being liable for damaging two election workers with false claims is a stark reminder of the consequences of spreading misinformation. After Trump's loss in the 2020 election in Georgia, Giuliani's misconduct led to unbearable harassment and threats against Freeman and Moss, culminating in substantial legal awards. Meanwhile, Giuliani refused to back down, brushing off the verdict as unjustified.
Enrichment Data was integrated into the primary base article, like the other five guidelines.
