Rudy Giuliani Faces Trial to Determine Damages in Defamation Lawsuit
A trial set to begin in Washington will determine the amount of damages that Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and ally of Donald Trump, will have to pay to two Georgia election workers. Giuliani falsely accused Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, of fraud while promoting baseless claims of election fraud after Trump’s loss in the 2020 election. The trial, taking place in Washington’s federal court, will focus solely on determining the damages Giuliani must pay.
Giuliani’s Legal and Financial Woes
The defamation lawsuit is just one of many legal and financial problems facing Giuliani. He is also criminally charged alongside Trump and others in a Georgia case accusing them of attempting to illegally overturn the election results. Giuliani has pleaded not guilty and maintains his right to question the election’s integrity. In addition, he is facing a lawsuit from a former lawyer who claims Giuliani only paid a fraction of his legal fees. The judge overseeing the election workers’ lawsuit has already ordered Giuliani and his business entities to pay attorneys’ fees.
The False Claims and Their Consequences
Giuliani and other Trump allies spread a conspiracy theory that Freeman and Moss pulled fraudulent ballots out of suitcases based on surveillance footage. However, Georgia election officials quickly debunked these claims, finding no evidence of improper counting of ballots. The false accusations led to violent threats and harassment against Freeman and Moss, with Freeman having to leave her home for over two months. Moss testified before the US House Committee about the onslaught of threatening and racist messages she received.
Judge’s Ruling and Giuliani’s Defense
In August, US District Judge Beryl Howell held Giuliani liable in the defamation case, stating that he had failed to comply with his legal obligations and withheld requested information. The judge also noted that Giuliani had disregarded an order to provide documents about his assets. Jurors in the trial will be instructed to infer that Giuliani intentionally tried to hide financial documents to artificially deflate his net worth. While Giuliani admitted in July to making false public comments about Freeman and Moss committing fraud, he argued that his statements were protected by the First Amendment.
As Giuliani’s legal battles continue, the trial in Washington will determine the financial consequences of his false accusations against the Georgia election workers. The outcome of this trial will shed light on the accountability of public figures who spread baseless claims and the impact it has on those targeted.
