Rudy Giuliani's Bid to Dismiss $148 Million Defamation Judgment Denied

After a legal battle with former Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea "Shaye" Moss, Rudy Giuliani has lost his motion to dismiss the $148 million defamation judgment against him. U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell issued a ruling on the matter, stating that Giuliani's arguments failed to convince the court to reverse its prior findings and override the jury's verdict.

Accusations and Impact

Giuliani had accused Freeman and Moss of election fraud while they were counting ballots in Georgia's Fulton County on Election Day in 2020, which led to the defamation trial. Following the ruling, Freeman expressed her need to remain anonymous due to fears of threats and emphasized that while she is thankful for the jury's decision, monetary compensation cannot solve all her problems. The defamation ruling was made in December, and Giuliani subsequently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a New York court.

Bankruptcy and Financial Status

In the bankruptcy filing, Giuliani revealed his net worth to be between $1 million and $10 million. However, he claimed to owe more than $151 million to various creditors. His political adviser, Ted Goodman, stated that the bankruptcy filing should not come as a surprise to anyone. A bankruptcy judge later ruled that Giuliani could appeal the judgment, which was reduced to just under $146 million.

Witness Testimonies

During the trial, two investigators with the Georgia Secretary of State at the time, Frank Braun and Frances Watson, highlighted that Freeman and Moss had returned to State Farm Arena to help with the ballot counting process, not to rig votes as suggested by Giuliani and others. Braun emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest any wrongdoing on their part.