Additional Coverage:
Giuliani Found in Contempt for Defaming Georgia Election Workers
Rudy Giuliani, a former advisor to Donald Trump, has been found in contempt of court for violating an order prohibiting him from defaming two former Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
A federal judge ruled that Giuliani had made six statements violating the order, accusing the women of election fraud. The judge stated that Giuliani had engaged in “the worst kind of defamation” by falsely accusing them of serious election crimes.
In 2023, Freeman and Moss were awarded $148 million in damages from Giuliani for making false claims about their involvement in a ballot processing scheme. The judge in that case ruled that Giuliani was liable for defaming the women.
Since then, Freeman and Moss have alleged that Giuliani has continued to defame them. The court found that Giuliani’s statements on two broadcast shows, in which he claimed the women were “quadruple counting” ballots and passing hard drives to “fix” voting machines, violated the order.
Giuliani’s attorney argued that the statements were unclear and lacked context, but the judge rejected this argument. The women’s attorney argued that Giuliani’s comments specifically referred to Freeman and Moss, despite not using their names.
The judge indicated that she would rule on a motion for a monetary penalty of $20,000 for each future violation of the order. Giuliani faces ongoing litigation over his ability to pay the $148 million judgment against him.