WASHINGTON — A federal court in Washington, D.C., is set to address whether Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and attorney for Donald Trump, should be held in contempt for persistently casting false allegations against two Georgia election workers. This upcoming hearing follows a recent $148 million defamation judgment favoring the workers, who claim ongoing distress due to Giuliani’s actions.
Attorneys for Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, propose that U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell impose civil contempt sanctions against Giuliani for his continued unfounded claims of election fraud involving the two during the 2020 election. Both Moss and Freeman experienced significant harassment and racist threats as a result of these accusations—disturbances that factored into the staggering punitive and compensatory damages awarded to them in December 2023.
Giuliani has rejected accusations that his conduct has been in contempt of court, citing his participation in a November podcast where he discussed what he considers ballot counting discrepancies in Georgia. His defense claims that these comments were made in good faith and do not breach the terms set by the defamation judgment.
This is not the only legal struggle Giuliani faces this week—Judge Lewis Liman of New York also held him in contempt recently for failing to produce necessary evidence regarding his ownership of a condominium in Palm Beach, Florida. Giuliani, during a January 3 testimony, expressed that he omitted certain documents believing the requests to be excessively broad or a potential “trap.”
Amidst these legal battles, Giuliani, 80, voiced concerns over traveling to attend the hearing, citing health issues and safety risks due to frequent death threats. Despite these apprehensions, he confirmed his attendance for the court session scheduled on Friday.
The fear endured by Moss and Freeman is profound, influenced heavily by the spread of conspiracy theories post-2020 election. On the witness stand, Moss recounted the severe changes she had made to her life, including altering her appearance and rarely leaving her house due to panic attacks. Freeman expressed that although the monetary judgment provides some relief, it does not restore her former life’s normalcy.
“I can never move back into the house I call home,” Freeman stated after the trial, lamenting the loss of her community and sense of security.
This case not only underscores the severe consequences of spreading misinformation in the political arena but also highlights the ongoing challenges individuals face in recovering from public and personal defamation.
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