Former New York City mayor and Donald Trump ally Rudy Giuliani was in court last week for proceedings to determine how much he’d have to pay for defaming two Black election workers from Georgia. Despite pleas from Giuliani’s lawyers that a large settlement would bring him financial ruin, a jury has decided that he owes the two women nearly $150 million for the harm that his statements against them have caused.
Earlier this year, Giuliani was ruled to be liable for defaming Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss after repeatedly spreading lies that they engaged in election rigging when they worked to count ballots in Georgia in 2020. On Friday, the federal jury seated to decide damages in the case returned its decision. As CNN reported, Freeman was awarded over $16 million for defamation, while Moss was awarded nearly $17 million. Each woman was also awarded $20 million for emotional distress, and the jury said that Giuliani would have to pay an additional $75 million in punitive damages, for a total of approximately $148 million he owes the two women.
