Rudy Giuliani Faces Defamation Lawsuit and Injunction from Georgia Election Workers

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and ex-personal lawyer to former President Donald Trump, is facing a defamation lawsuit from two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea "Shaye" Moss. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to stop Giuliani from repeating false claims about their involvement in the 2020 presidential election.

Why this matters: This lawsuit highlights the consequences of spreading misinformation and the importance of holding public figures accountable for their words. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future defamation cases and influence the way politicians and public figures approach discussions about elections and voting.

In December 2023, a jury found Giuliani guilty of defaming Freeman and Moss by falsely stating they committed election fraud while counting ballots in Fulton County, Georgia. Giuliani was ordered to pay Freeman and Moss $148 million in damages. Despite the court order, Giuliani has continued to spread misinformation about the 2020 election and defame Freeman and Moss.

In a January 5, 2024, appearance on his daily live cast, "America's Mayor Live," Giuliani claimed that Freeman and Moss counted ballots multiple times, stating, "[t]he case was in Georgia, the two women, I could play the tapes for you right now of one of them counting ballots four times." Freeman and Moss' lawyers have submitted a complaint to a federal bankruptcy judge, citing various incidents where Giuliani continues to spread misinformation about the 2020 election and defame them.

The complaint argues that Giuliani's continued campaign "of targeted defamation and harassment" poses an "imminent risk that Mr. Giuliani will inflict substantial reputational and emotional harm on Plaintiffs." The complaint concludes by asking the court to enjoin Giuliani from continuing to defame Freeman and Moss, stating that "Mr. Giuliani has entered year four of intentionally defaming Ms. Freeman and Ms. Moss—repeating the very same lies that Plaintiffs engaged in fraud during their service as election workers during the 2020 presidential election."

Giuliani's legal and financial troubles have been ongoing since the 2020 election. He has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has vowed to appeal the $148 million defamation judgment. Giuliani was also recently suspended from WABC, a New York radio station, and his show was canceled after promoting false information about the 2020 election.

The former New York City mayor's suspension from WABC radio came after he violated company policy by trying to discuss discredited claims about the 2020 presidential election on air. John Catsimatidis, the billionaire Republican businessman who owns the station, announced the suspension after Giuliani refused to avoid the topic despite repeated warnings.

As Rudy Giuliani faces mounting legal and financial consequences for his role in promoting false claims about the 2020 election, the defamation lawsuit brought by Ruby Freeman and Wandrea "Shaye" Moss seeks to hold him accountable for the harm caused by his repeated lies. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for Giuliani's ability to continue spreading misinformation and defaming those who worked to ensure a fair and accurate election process.