Atlanta, Georgia – A jury awarded $148 million in damages on Friday to two former Georgia election workers who sued former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani for defamation over lies he spread about them in 2020 that upended their lives with racist threats and harassment. Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, tearfully described becoming the target of a false conspiracy theory pushed by Giuliani and other Republicans as they tried to keep then-President Donald Trump in power after he lost the 2020 election.
The damages verdict included a $75 million award in punitive damages for the women, which prompted an audible gasp in the courtroom. Moss and Freeman were each awarded another approximately $36 million in other damages. Freeman expressed her feelings after the verdict, stating, “Money will never solve all my problems…I can never move back into the house that I call home. I will always have to be careful about where I go and who I choose to share my name with. I miss my home. I miss my neighbors and I miss my name.”
Giuliani, who did not show any emotion as the verdict was read, vowed to appeal, calling the number “absurd.” It remains uncertain whether Giuliani will be able to pay the staggering amount of damages, as he has previously shown signs of financial strain due to other lawsuits and investigations stemming from his representation of Trump.
The former mayor had already been found liable in the defamation case and conceded in court documents that he falsely accused the women of ballot fraud. Despite this, Giuliani continued to repeat his baseless allegations about the women to reporters outside the Washington courthouse. Giuliani’s lawyer attempted to shift blame onto a right-wing website that published surveillance video of the women counting ballots.
Giuliani is still facing criminal charges in Georgia, where he has pleaded not guilty and characterized the case as politically motivated. In the defamation case, jurors heard recordings of Giuliani falsely accusing the election workers of ballot fraud and tampering with voting machines, while Moss and Freeman described fearing for their lives as they received hateful messages and faced harassment.
The judgment adds to Giuliani’s growing legal and financial troubles, as he continues to defend himself against numerous legal battles. The defamation case highlights the consequences of spreading false information and the impact it can have on individuals and their lives.