Two former Georgia election workers who won nearly $150 million in a defamation lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani are now seeking to have him held in civil contempt for continuing to make false claims about them. Despite a court-approved agreement in May that prohibited him from repeating defamatory statements, Giuliani has allegedly continued to accuse Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss of election fraud in the 2020 election.
In court documents filed in Washington, D.C., the pair’s attorneys argue that Giuliani violated the permanent injunction by making false claims during his “America’s Mayor Live” show, including accusations that Freeman and Moss “quadruple-counted” votes and used “hard drives” to manipulate voting machines. The filing states that these statements are clear violations of the injunction and calls for Giuliani to be held in contempt.
The election workers are requesting fines for the violations and a warning that future infractions will result in further penalties. They suggest that determining the appropriate sanctions might require an evidentiary hearing to ensure that Giuliani complies with the court order.
In response, Giuliani’s representative, Ted Goodman, dismissed the motion, calling it an “attack” aimed at depriving Giuliani of his First Amendment rights. Goodman described the ongoing legal action against Giuliani as “lawfare.”
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell has ordered Giuliani to respond to the motion by December 2 and to appear at a hearing on December 12. If he fails to respond by the deadline, the court may consider it as an admission of the allegations.
Giuliani was found liable for defamation last year after he failed to comply with court orders to provide evidence in the case. Freeman and Moss filed the lawsuit after Giuliani’s false claims about them, which were made during his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The false accusations led to harassment, threats, and forced them out of their jobs. A jury initially awarded them $148 million in damages, though the amount was later reduced to $146 million, a decision Giuliani is appealing.
After filing for bankruptcy protection, Giuliani’s case was dismissed due to his failure to provide financial information. In an attempt to enforce the judgment, Freeman and Moss filed a new suit in New York, accusing Giuliani of delaying the surrender of his assets. Recently, Giuliani began turning over some assets, including luxury watches and a 1980 Mercedes-Benz. However, his attorneys claim he has yet to turn over significant assets, including cash.
Giuliani is also challenging the workers’ claims to certain items, such as his Florida condo and his New York Yankees World Series rings, which he says he gave to his son. These disputes will be addressed in a trial set for January 16, but Giuliani is requesting a delay due to “inauguration events.” Freeman and Moss’s attorneys have urged the judge to maintain the current trial date, arguing that Giuliani’s scheduling preference is not a valid reason to postpone the trial.