Rudy Giuliani Ordered to Pay $150 Million in Damages to Former Georgia Election Workers
In a major legal blow to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a federal judge has ordered him to pay nearly $150 million in damages to Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, two former election workers in Georgia. The ruling comes as a result of Giuliani’s false claims and defamatory statements about their involvement in voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election.
Giuliani, who has been one of former President Donald Trump’s staunchest allies, has vowed to appeal the verdict. However, he claims that he does not have the funds to cover the massive amount of damages. Freeman and Moss’ attorneys have been unable to determine Giuliani’s net worth, as he has not responded to their subpoenas.
Nevertheless, the attorneys are determined to ensure that Freeman and Moss receive the money they are owed and will pursue other jurisdictions where Giuliani has assets. Legal experts suggest that the election workers may only be able to collect a fraction of the awarded amount. However, depending on Giuliani’s assets, they could still receive millions.
This is not the first financial setback for Giuliani in recent months. He has already been fined over $200,000 for attorneys’ fees and currently owes over $1 million to defense attorneys. It remains unclear whether Giuliani can declare bankruptcy to shield himself from paying the damages, and this issue may have to be decided by the courts.
Despite his financial troubles, Giuliani has received help with fundraising and was even able to take a private plane to his arrest on criminal charges related to election interference. In an attempt to alleviate some of his burdens, Giuliani listed his Manhattan apartment for sale a few months ago, but it is still on the market for $6.1 million.
Even if Giuliani were to declare bankruptcy, legal experts believe he would still be obligated to pay the damages awarded to Moss and Freeman. The ruling in their favor sets a precedent for other defamation cases and could serve as a vindication for the plaintiffs who have endured immense hardship due to Giuliani’s false claims.
Moss and Freeman have expressed that money will never solve all their problems and that their lives have been forever changed by Giuliani’s defamatory statements. They hope this ruling will serve as a deterrent against spreading baseless allegations without any evidence.
Giuliani, however, remains steadfast in his position, offering no proof to support his claims and standing by his defamatory comments. As he plans to appeal the verdict, the legal battle surrounding this case is far from over. The outcome will likely have far-reaching implications for the future of defamation cases and accountability for those who spread false information.
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