- By Bernd Debusmann Jr & Brandon Drenon
- BBC News, Washington
Image source, Getty Images
Rudy Giuliani at court on Friday
Jurors have begun deliberating in a defamation case against Rudy Giuliani, who spread false vote-tampering claims about two Georgia election workers.
Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss are seeking damages of up to $43m (£34m) from the former lawyer to ex-President Donald Trump.
A judge has already found that Mr Giuliani, 79, defamed the mother and daughter.
Eight jurors are now deciding exactly how much he will have to pay.
In closing arguments on Thursday, Joseph Sibley, Mr Giuliani’s lawyer, urged the jury to be measured as they consider the penalty.
Lawyers for Ms Freeman and Ms Moss are “asking you to reward a catastrophic amount of damages”, he argued.
Image source, Getty Images
Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman testified to Congress in June 2022 about Mr Giuliani’s claims
He said that, although the former mayor of New York did spread lies after the 2020 presidential election, he was not as responsible – or as malicious – as lawyers for the two have argued.
“I’m not asking for a hall pass today,” Mr Sibley told the jury. “I’m asking you to remember that this is a man who did great things.”
Michael Gottlieb, the lawyer for Ms Freeman and Ms Moss, painted a different picture, calling Mr Giuliani “patient zero” of the misinformation.
He said that during three days of evidence and testimony the jury “experienced a sliver of the unspeakable horror that (Ms Freeman and Ms Moss) suffered”.
Mr Giuliani had been expected to testify in his own defence on Thursday, but those plans were abruptly cancelled. His lawyer said it was because “we feel like these women have been through enough”.
The jury heard from both women this week.
In courtroom testimony in Washington DC on Wednesday, Ms Freeman recounted having to flee her home after a group of Trump supporters gathered outside and the FBI told her she was in danger.
The incident happened after Mr Giuliani shared a video of them, which he falsely said showed evidence of ballot tampering.
“I took it as though they were going to hang me with their ropes on my street,” Ms Freeman said. “I was scared. I didn’t know if they were coming to kill me.”
Ms Freeman said that she was left isolated by Mr Giuliani’s actions. Friends and acquaintances grew afraid to be linked to her, and she has felt forced to live a life of seclusion because of lingering fears she will be recognised publicly.
“It’s so scary, any time I go somewhere, if I have to use my name,” she said. “Now I don’t have a name, really.”
Northwestern University Professor Ashley Humphreys, a trial witness and sociologist who specialises in consumer behaviour, testified on Wednesday that Mr Giuliani’s defamatory statements were seen up to 56 million times on social media platforms.
Mr Giuliani’s attorney has said the damages sought by Ms Freeman and Ms Moss “would be the end of Mr Giuliani”.
In Georgia, he faces criminal charges, including making false statements, in an election-subversion case against Mr Trump. Mr Giuliani has pleaded not guilty.
A former business associate is also suing him for $10m over sexual harassment claims.
And according to recent court filings from the Internal Revenue Service, Mr Giuliani owed more than half a million dollars in federal taxes.
In September, Mr Trump reportedly hosted a $100,000-a-plate dinner at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, to raise money for a legal defence fund for Mr Giuliani.
Mr Giuliani’s 2018 divorce case heard claims of his lavish spending. His ex-wife, Judith Giuliani, said that in a five-month period he spent nearly a million dollars.
This included $12,012 on cigars, $7,131 on fountain pens, $286,000 on an alleged mistress, $447,938 “for his own enjoyment” and $165,000 on travel.