A Washington DC jury has ordered former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani to pay a total of $148 million in damages to two former Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. The ruling came as a result of a defamation lawsuit filed by Freeman and Moss after Giuliani made false claims alleging the two women were involved in voter fraud in Georgia’s 2020 election.
The jury deliberated for a day-and-a-half before reaching their decision, awarding Freeman and Moss $73 million in compensatory damages and an additional $75 million in punitive damages for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The attorneys for Freeman and Moss had initially requested $24 million for each plaintiff, but the jury surpassed this demand.
During the trial, Freeman testified that she received threatening messages and experienced increased fear following Giuliani’s statements and social media posts. The attorneys also presented audio recordings of former President Trump demanding an investigation into the women, linking Giuliani to Trump’s attempts to uncover voter fraud in the 2020 election and the events of January 6, 2021.
In August, Judge Beryl Howell had ruled that Giuliani was legally liable for defaming Freeman and Moss, as he was late in producing relevant evidence to the election workers’ attorneys. The jury was instructed to deliberate on an appropriate dollar amount for Giuliani to pay in damages to the plaintiffs.
Giuliani, however, did not testify in the trial, and the defense rested its case on Thursday without calling him to the stand. It is expected that Giuliani will appeal the ruling.
Before the jury delivered their decision, Freeman and Moss were observed appearing jovial and relaxed. However, their demeanor changed once the jury was brought in to hear closing arguments. Following the ruling, the two women were awarded a significant amount in damages, likely in line with their expectations given the nature of the court.
The ruling against Giuliani comes in the context of ongoing legal battles and public scrutiny following his involvement in post-election activities. As the legal proceedings continue, it remains to be seen how the verdict will impact Giuliani and the larger political landscape.
