Washington, DC – Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has expressed his intention to appeal against the damages awarded to election workers whom he defamed. In a defamation trial, a jury ordered Giuliani to pay nearly $150 million to the Georgia election workers for the harm caused by his defamatory statements following the 2020 election. Giuliani believes that the damages awarded are absurd and feels that the trial was unfair.
Giuliani made these remarks outside the courtroom after the verdict was read. He described the amount he was ordered to pay as absurd, emphasizing that it highlights the absurdity of the entire proceedings. Giuliani claimed that he didn’t get the chance to offer evidence in his defense. He also denied any connection to the threatening comments received by the election workers, although he acknowledged that those threats were abominable and deplorable.
CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig disagreed with Giuliani’s claim that he did not have the opportunity to present evidence. Honig pointed out that Giuliani had already been found liable for defamation and had the chance to provide his own defense during the trial on damages. Honig also noted that the threats received by the election workers were particularly vile, racist, and virulent, while Giuliani, as a public figure, regularly faces threats.
During the trial, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, testified about the threats they received. Giuliani’s remarks suggesting that he receives comments like those every day were criticized by Honig. Honig argued that Moss and Freeman were not public figures like Giuliani and were simply civil servants counting votes.
Giuliani plans to appeal the verdict and may also request a new trial. The former lawyer for Donald Trump maintains his belief that the trial was unfair and that his comments were not defamatory. The damages awarded to the election workers have been described as the highest in a defamation case in U.S. history.
In summary, Rudy Giuliani has called the damages awarded to election workers he defamed as absurd and intends to appeal. A jury ordered Giuliani to pay nearly $150 million to the Georgia election workers for the harm caused by his defamatory statements. However, Giuliani maintains that the trial was unfair and that he did not get the opportunity to present evidence in his defense.