Rudy Guliani fined $14.8 million for defaming election officials

- Ruby Freeman and Wandera Moss ordered to pay $73 million in restitution

- Former New York mayor and former Trump lawyer Rudy Guliani fined $7.5 million for misconduct

WASHINGTON: Trump's ex-lawyer Rudy Guliani was ordered to pay more than $1.48 billion in damages for defamation by falsely alleging that two former Georgia election workers aided former US President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. The court gave

A federal court jury awarded Rudy Guliani approximately $7.3 million in damages for the reputational damage and emotional distress suffered by Black election workers Wander Shaye Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, and $7 million in punitive damages for their misconduct. A fine of 5 million dollars is imposed. Guliani said he would appeal against the verdict.

Freeman said outside court that the jury witnessed Rudy's treatment of me and my daughter and found him responsible. Others must also be held accountable. A federal judge convicted Guliani of defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress before the trial, leaving the jury to decide only how much to fine Guliani.

Moss and Freeman, both black women, described racist and racist messages sent at them by Trump supporters during their three days of testimony. They were also threatened to kill him in a mob. The two women received various threats after Trump and his associates falsely claimed that they were involved in voter fraud.

Michael Gottlieb, a lawyer for the election staff, said Guliani believed Ruby and Moss were ordinary people who would get away with accusing them of election fraud. Guliani has no right to turn defenseless employees against virtual mobs to reverse the election results. Guliani's lawyer, Joseph Sibley, admitted that his client had caused harm, but said the prosecution's demand for a fine of Rs 4.8 crore would be devastating for his client. Recalling the role he played as mayor during the terror attack on the Twin Towers in New York, his lawyer described Guliani as a good man and said he should not be defined by recent events.

During the 2020 election, Giuliani repeatedly falsely claimed that Moss and Freeman had counted illegal ballots and stuffed them into suitcases at a basketball arena in Atlanta during the 2020 election. Guliani has faced a series of civil and criminal charges since leading efforts to reverse Trump's election loss. have faced. Because of which their lawyers' expenses have also increased.