A jury rules in favour of Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss after Giuliani’s baseless fraud claims triggered a wave of harassment.

Rudy Giuliani, the former lawyer of Donald Trump, has been ordered to pay almost $150 million to Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss after making false claims that led to significant harassment and abuse. A Washington D.C. jury awarded Freeman $16.2 million and Moss $16.99 million in compensatory damages, alongside $20 million each for emotional distress. In addition, they were granted $75 million in punitive damages.

The case stemmed from Giuliani’s unfounded accusations that Freeman and Moss had manipulated the 2020 election results. He falsely claimed the women were involved in ballot fraud, including carrying suitcases of ballots and using a flash drive to alter votes in favour of Joe Biden. These allegations triggered a torrent of racist abuse, threats, and public scorn, deeply affecting their personal lives.

During the trial, the two women shared harrowing accounts of the emotional toll they suffered. Freeman explained how the false claims left her feeling trapped in a cycle of fear and distress, and Moss expressed hopes that no one else would ever have to endure the same ordeal.

While Freeman was forced to leave her home due to threats, both women continued to seek justice in the courts. Freeman reflected that the damages, though substantial, would never resolve the ongoing challenges she faces from the smear campaign. “I miss my home, I miss my neighbours, and I miss my name,” she said after the ruling.

Giuliani’s conduct continues to have far-reaching consequences, with the legal team of Freeman and Moss initially requesting $24 million each to compensate for the damage done to their reputations. The verdict is seen as a major blow to Giuliani, who remains entangled in various legal challenges related to the 2020 election fraud conspiracy.

Giuliani, who maintained that he did not regret his statements, described the damage award as absurd. Despite this, he did not take the stand in his own defence. His lawyer, Joseph Sibley, suggested the responsibility for the spread of the false claims lay with far-right media outlets, which disseminated the accusations after Giuliani’s statements. However, Giuliani’s remarks about Freeman and Moss were integral to the ongoing campaign of defamation that led to the harassment.

The case also highlights Giuliani’s role in spreading the “stolen election” narrative, which continues to fuel conspiracy theories and drive a wedge in American politics. His remarks and those of Trump, alongside far-right outlets, prompted violent rhetoric and a political atmosphere ripe for false accusations against election workers.

This ruling is just one part of Giuliani’s broader legal troubles, as he faces multiple defamation lawsuits and charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.