Prior to the unexpected announcement this morning that Rudy Giuliani will not testify in his own defense, the former mayor had repeatedly told reporters that he looked forward to presenting his side of the story at trial.

"When I testify, the whole story will be definitively clear that what I said was true, and that, whatever happened to them, which is unfortunate about other people overreacting -- everything I said about them is true," Giuliani told ABC News' Terry Moran on Monday.

When court reconvened the following morning, on Tuesday, a visibly frustrated Judge Beryl Howell admonished Giuliani, suggesting his remarks "could support another defamation claim."

She reiterated the court's prior ruling that Giuliani's allegations against Freeman and Moss were untrue and cautioned him against raising arguments that she has already ruled on.

In an unexpected twist, Rudy Giuliani will not testify in his defamation trial, an attorney said as court convened this morning.

Giuliani told reporters on Wednesday that he "intends" to testify today in his own defense.

In a preview of what he might have said on the stand, Giuliani claimed he "had nothing to do with any of those" racist voicemails and emails shown in court.

Leaving court, Rudy Giuliani said he had nothing do to with the racially charged messages to Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss that were presented in court.

"I had nothing to do with any of those," Giuliani told reporters.

"My name isn't there. It doesn't refer to me," the former mayor said. "I don't even know who those people are."

Ruby Freeman stepped down from the witness stand after almost 90 minutes of emotional testimony as the final witness in her and her daughter's case against Rudy Giuliani.

The defense rested its case, and Judge Howell sent jurors home for the day.

Court was subsequently adjourned until tomorrow, when the defense is scheduled to present its case.

Giuliani is expected to take the stand.

Former election worker Ruby Freeman told reporters that "today is a good day," but cautioned that "money will never solve all of my problems" after Rudy Giuliani targeted her and her daughter with defamatory statements.

"I will always have to be careful about where I go and who I will be able to share my name with," Freeman said of her need to remain anonymous due to the fear of threats. "I miss my name."

"A jury stood witness to what Rudy Giuliani did to me and my daughter … for that I am thankful," said Freeman. But, she said, "I want people to understand this: Money will never solve all of my problems."

Freeman's daughter, Shaye Moss, said that "the flame Giuliani lit with those lies … changed every aspect of our lives."

"We hope no one ever has to fight so hard just to get your name back," Moss said.

"Our greatest wish is that no one … ever experiences anything like what we went through" Moss added.