Washington, D.C. – A jury in Washington, D.C. has awarded a staggering $148 million to two Georgia election workers who were defamed by lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, testified that Giuliani, with the support of former President Donald Trump, spread false information about their activities as election workers in Fulton County during the 2020 election. The jury decided on the compensation breakdown, awarding $33 million for defamation ($16 million each), $40 million for emotional distress ($20 million each), and $75 million in punitive damages.
Freeman revealed in court that she endured threatening letters, voicemails, violent and racist social media messages, and in-person confrontations following Giuliani’s false claims. The situation became so severe that the FBI informed Freeman that her name was on a “death list.” Fearing for her safety, she sold her home and moved, purchasing a new home under a different name. Freeman emotionally stated, “I don’t have a name anymore. The only thing you have in your life is your name… My life is messed up. My life is really messed up.”
After the verdict, Giuliani, who served as Trump’s personal attorney in attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, expressed no remorse and declared his intention to appeal the decision. He confidently asserted, “I am quite confident when this case gets me before a fair tribunal, this will be reversed so quickly it will make your head spin.”
The trial revealed that Giuliani was previously found liable for defamation in a default judgment. The recent proceedings aimed to determine the financial penalty for his actions. Throughout the trial, Giuliani repeated the same false claims that led to his involvement in the case, despite having previously conceded their falsehood. Interestingly, Giuliani did not testify in his own defense, despite initially pledging to do so to clear his name.
Giuliani’s attorney, Joseph Sibley, appealed to the jury for a lower figure, emphasizing the potential financial devastation such a large sum would have on his client. Sibley argued that Giuliani, through various unfortunate circumstances, has been caught in a difficult situation, but described him as a “good man” with a history of significant accomplishments.
After the verdict, Freeman thanked the jury for holding Giuliani accountable but acknowledged that there is still work to be done. She stated, “Today is not the end of the road, we still have work to do. Rudy Giuliani was not the only one who spread lies about us, and others must be held accountable too.”
The jury’s decision to award $148 million in damages to Freeman and Moss reflects the extent of the harm caused by Giuliani’s defamatory statements. It remains to be seen whether an appeal will overturn this verdict.