OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has responded after a jury in Washington, D.C., imposed a massive judgment against him on Friday in a defamation case filed by 2020 Georgia election workers.
The jury awarded Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye Moss” more than $148 million in damages after they filed suit against Giuliani, who served as then-President Donald Trump’s private attorney.
CNN reported that the unanimous verdict included various damages for each of the two plaintiffs who were Georgia election workers in 2020. The lawsuit targeted Trump and his allies, who accused the election workers of helping to steal the election from him.
Both Moss and Freeman provided testimony about the overwhelming harassment, racist attacks, and death threats they endured after being falsely accused of election fraud. The repercussions included fear of using their real names, fleeing their homes, and resigning from their positions as election workers.
THE DECISION:
Defamation
Moss awarded: $16,998,000
Freeman awarded: $16,171,000Emotional distress
Moss awarded: $20 million
Freeman awarded: $20 millionPunitive damages
Total: $75 million— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) December 15, 2023
The former mayor will also have to pay the two plaintiffs’ attorney fees. He spoke to reporters after the verdict was handed down.
“Possibly will move for a new trial, certainly will appeal,” Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor, said. “The absurdity of the number merely underscores the absurdity of the entire proceeding where I’ve not been allowed to offer one single piece of evidence in defense, of which I have a lot.
“So I am quite confident when this case gets before a fair tribunal, it will be reversed so quickly. That will make your head spin. And the absurd number that just came in will help that, actually,” he added.
“Why did you think it was unfair?” one reporter asked.
“I cannot go into the details. I didn’t testify because the judge made it clear that if I made any mistake or did anything wrong, she was considering contempt,” Giuliani responded. “And this judge does have a reputation for putting people in jail. And I thought, honestly, it wouldn’t do any good.
“Do you still believe what you said about these two women in the wake of the 2020 elections?” another reporter asked.
“I have no doubt. I have no doubt that my comments were made,and they were supportable and are supportable today,” Giuliani added.
“I just did not have an opportunity to present the evidence that we offered,” he said.
“Did you notice we were not allowed to put in one piece of evidence in defense? Do you also realize that liability is not based on any trial? My ability is based on her disagreement with me on discovery, which is absurd. Get it? Because I believe the judge was threatening me with the strong possibility that I’d be held in contempt or that I’d even be put in jail,” he said.
“So it didn’t seem like it was going to do much to persuade anybody, and it could give her what she seemed to be threatening. Do you believe the women’s testimony? All right. That’s all I have to say,” he added.
“Do you have regrets about some of the comments that the women received?” a reporter then asked.
“Well, of course the comments they received, I had nothing to do with those comments, [they] are abominable. They’re deplorable,” Giuliani insisted.
This $148 million verdict against Giuliani is just one among numerous lawsuits awaiting resolution over false claims associated with the 2020 election, Mediaite reported on Friday. Moss and Freeman had previously filed a defamation lawsuit against conspiracy theorist blogger Gateway Pundit with similar allegations a few weeks before suing Giuliani.
The complaint against Giuliani also implicated One America News for broadcasting the claims, and OAN has since settled its portion of the complaint for an undisclosed sum, the outlet continued.
