Rudy Giuliani, the former Mayor of New York City, just finished a day of jury deliberations in D.C. for his defamation damages trial. Giuliani is confronting a significant question - how much he will have to compensate the two Georgia election workers he falsely accused of ballot tampering.
Guiliani had announced that he would testify in his defense for the multi-million defamation case. However, just before the final trial day started, he held back. His lawyer argued that the women implicated in this case, Ruby Freeman and Shea Moss, had been through enough already.
Freeman and Moss faced years of threats and harassment post Giuliani's false accusations. The courtroom filled with their voicemails, showcasing the torrent of hate and threats they received after the 2020 election. A judge had previously ruled Giuliani liable for the damages, leaving the jury to decide on the amount he needs to pay. Freeman and Moss are currently seeking a compensation of at least $48 million.
Freeman and Moss had their lives completely upturned due to the false allegations, which were underscored during several emotional hours on the stand. Death threats, unemployment, and the loss of security have been consequences of these claims. Moss, particularly, spoke about losing her reputation and her sense of security.
The erroneous narrative initiated by Giuliani about Freeman and Moss came after the 2020 election. This was during Georgia's investigation into unfounded voter fraud allegations. As a mother-daughter duo, they testified how the false allegations significantly impacted their lives, including difficulty in finding employment.
Despite the potential detrimental financial consequences of this case, Giuliani has consistently stood by his claims, including the unsupported hypothesis that the 2020 election was rigged.
With escalating legal costs and potential penalties from several other civil lawsuits, Guiliani potentially may lack the funds to cover whatever the jury awards. Undeniably, his financial and legal quandaries seem to represent the material impact of the political and legal melodrama that has unfolded since the last US presidential election. The jury will resume its deliberations tomorrow, and the question of how much the former Mayor may have to pay will finally be answered.
