Giuliani defamation trial: Jury awards election workers nearly $150 million
The amount is three times as much as plaintiffs were seeking.
Following a week-long trial, a federal jury has ordered former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to pay nearly $150 million to former Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea "Shaye" Moss for defaming them with false accusations that the mother and daughter committed election fraud while the two were counting ballots in Georgia's Fulton County on Election Day in 2020.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in August awarded a default judgment to the two women, leaving the trial to determine the full scope of the damages and penalties. Freeman and Moss were seeking between $15.5 million and an amount in the $40 million range.
Top headlines:
- Jury awards Freeman, Moss $75 million apiece
- Freeman, Moss entitled to $24M each, attorney argues
- Giuliani won't testify, attorney says
- Freeman tearfully testifies she left her home due to threats
- Fixing plaintiffs' reputations will cost up to $47M, says expert
- Moss, through tears, describes life after Giuliani's accusations
- Georgia investigators dispel election fraud claims
- Judge blasts Giuliani for 'additional defamatory' remarks
- Expert describes racist content 'on a level we don't see'
Giuliani won't testify, attorney says
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.
Giuliani disavows racist messages
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."
Moss, Freeman rest their case
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.
Freeman tearfully testifies she left her home due to threats
Wiping away tears, Ruby Freeman described being forced to leave her house for two months -- and ultimately having to move out -- because of the threats she received after she was falsely accused of manipulating ballots.
Freeman said she was advised to leave her home by the FBI. She then stayed in different Airbnbs.
"I couldn't stay at home," Freeman said. "I was just too scared and my neighbors were having to watch out for me."
Freeman sobbed as she recounted how she lost the ability to use her name in her new home. She said she is too scared to introduce herself to her neighbors.
"I have a home but I can't do anything," Freeman said.
Judge blasts Giuliani for 'additional defamatory' remarks
Judge Beryl Howell admonished Rudy Giuliani for making "additional defamatory comments" about Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss late Monday when he told ABC News' Terry Moran that he stands by his false statements about the two women.
Giuliani told Moran as he departed the courthouse Monday that "everything I said about them is true" and that the women "were engaged in changing votes."
Those comments "could support another defamation claim," Howell told Giuliani's attorney, Joseph Sibley, as court resumed Tuesday morning. "How do you reconcile those comments?"
"I wasn't there," Sibley said. "I don't know how that's reconcilable."
When Howell asked if Giuliani denied making those comments, Giuliani rose his voice and said, "Of course I did."
The trial has "taken a toll on him," Sibley said. "He's 80 years old ... I can't control everything he does."
Howell then questioned Giuliani's age, capacity and acuity -- and whether that might be an issue in the case. "Can he follow instructions?" she asked.
"The answer, of course, is yes," Sibley replied, adding again that "sitting through a multi-day trial" has been hard for Giuliani.
The judge appeared visibly frustrated while chastising Giuliani and his attorney over his remarks. Giuliani, reclining in his chair at the defendant's table, shook his head at times.