Giuliani's Financially Zingering Verdict: Millions for Election Workers' Slander
In a dramatic turn of events, the once-respected politician and ex-New York mayor, Rudy Giuliani, now finds himself facing a hefty bill for defaming election workers during his association with former President Donald Trump.
Following the 2020 US presidential election, Giuliani, who disparaged female election workers as fraudsters, was ordered to pay a staggering sum by a Washington D.C. jury. The two women, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, were Georgia-based election workers caught up in Giuliani's accusations. According to media reports, the duo was awarded a hefty $148 million (approximately €137 million) in damages – far more than the prosecution initially demanded.
The women's profession brought them both unwanted attention, as Giuliani, an ally of Former President Trump, falsely accused them of throwing away ballots for Trump and counting fake ones for Democrat Joe Biden. Subsequently, they became targets for Trump supporters, and their names surfaced in a circulating video.
Freeman and Moss stated their ordeal in front of the congressional committee investigating the Capitol attack. 'I don't want to go anywhere anymore. I question everything,' Moss said at the time. She recounted the harrowing threats and wishes for her demise from individuals who opposed her. The two women eventually filed a defamation suit, accusing Giuliani of damaging their reputation and spewing racist threats.
Despite the judge already ruling against him in the summer, the compensation amount was still open-ended. Giuliani did not testify in the trial but, in court, admitted that he did not regret his statements and considered them true.
Giuliani, who worked with Trump during his tenure, now grapples with additional legal hurdles. He is charged with electoral fraud in conjunction with the Republican candidate in Georgia alongside a slew of other legal woes. Giuliani's stellar reputation declined significantly in recent years following numerous controversies.
Relevant Insights
- The women received national attention due to their testimonies before the congressional committee investigating the attack on the Capitol.
- Giuliani did not testify in the trial, but he expressed his lack of regret for his statements in court.
- The amount of compensation demanded by the women was $43 million, significantly lesser than the awarded amount.
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