His mistakes have caught up to him.
In a recent high-profile legal ruling, Rudy Giuliani, former attorney for the Trump campaign, has been ordered to pay an extraordinary $148 million in damages to two Georgia election workers, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and Ruby Freeman. The decision concludes a week-long federal civil trial where the jury heard the harrowing accounts of the workers who faced threats and racist voicemails after Giuliani spread baseless 2020 election conspiracies. Despite a hand-count audit confirming the election’s accuracy, Giuliani persisted with false allegations that the women engaged in fraud. District Judge Beryl Howell had previously found Giuliani liable for defamation, leading to the recent trial focusing on determining damages.
Freeman emotionally stated that the awarded money couldn’t restore their past lives or reputations, emphasizing the profound impact of the false claims. Moss expressed a hope that no election worker or citizen would endure similar hardships. Giuliani, calling the jury’s award “absurd,” indicated plans to appeal, adding to his existing legal challenges. Apart from this civil trial, Giuliani faces over a dozen charges in a racketeering investigation linked to his attempts to influence Georgia’s 2020 election outcome.
The trial brought attention to the broader consequences of election lies, with expert witnesses estimating that falsehoods reached tens of millions of people. Freeman tearfully recounted leaving her home due to FBI warnings about potential threats, highlighting the deep personal toll of unwarranted attacks on her reputation. As legal repercussions accumulate for those involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, observers hope that accountability will serve as a deterrent, fostering a commitment to truth in the democratic process.
