A federal jury has ordered Rudy Giuliani, the former federal prosecutor and onetime mayor of New York, to pay $148 million in damages to two 2020 Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss.
The damages were awarded for falsely accusing them of election fraud, a claim that Giuliani made during his role as Donald Trump’s campaign lawyer.
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This verdict represents a significant reversal for Giuliani, who gained fame as “America’s mayor” for his response to the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. Outside the courthouse, Giuliani stated, “I know that my country had a president imposed on it by fraud.”
When pressed for evidence of his unproven conspiracy theories, he replied, “These are not conspiracy theories. These are proven facts. I’m not allowed to present it.”
Giuliani has vowed to appeal the verdict in a strong social media post, claiming that the amount awarded is indicative of the unfairness of the entire proceeding.
The jury awarded Freeman nearly $16.2 million and Moss nearly $17 million in defamation damages. Additionally, they awarded $20 million each for the intentional infliction of emotional distress and a combined $75 million in punitive damages.
The courtroom was filled with audible gasps when the damages were read aloud by the jury foreperson. Freeman and Moss embraced their attorneys after the jury left the courtroom, while Giuliani left with his lawyer without making eye contact with the plaintiffs.
These damages add to the financial challenges that Giuliani, now 79 years old, is facing. He is currently being sued by his former lawyer for $1.36 million in unpaid fees. Furthermore, he has listed his apartment for sale for $6.5 million, which is only a fraction of what he owes.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell had previously ruled that Giuliani defamed Freeman and Moss by falsely accusing them of stuffing ballot boxes on election night while counting votes in Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.
The jury deliberated for several days to determine the amount Giuliani owed the women in damages.
During the trial, Michael Gottlieb, the lawyer representing Freeman and Moss, argued that the false accusations made by Giuliani constituted a sustained and deliberate viral campaign.
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He claimed that the purpose of these statements was to overturn the election and have them spread around the world millions of times.
Giuliani’s legal troubles continue to mount as a result of his involvement in the 2020 election. While the verdict may be appealed, the significant damages awarded by the jury serve as a reminder of the potential consequences of making false accusations.
