Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has agreed to halt his attacks on two Georgia election workers following a $148 million defamation judgment against him.
According to court documents, Giuliani consented to cease making allegations against Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss after accusing them of election fraud, including the claim that they had passed around USB drives “like vials of heroin or cocaine.”
These comments, which some considered racist towards the black mother-daughter duo, came prior to their exoneration by Georgia election authorities in June 2023. Both Freeman and Moss were frequently targeted by former President Donald Trump in his claims of fraud during the 2020 election.
The accusations significantly impacted their lives, prompting Freeman to leave her home due to threats.
“There is nowhere I feel safe. Nowhere,” Freeman stated in June 2022. “I have lost my name and I have lost my reputation. … All because a group of people, starting with number 45 and his ally Rudy Giuliani, decided to scapegoat me and my daughter.”
Freeman and Moss stated this month that Giuliani continued his defamatory remarks in an April livestream, claiming he had evidence they had counted ballots twice.
Facing the enormous judgment, Giuliani filed for bankruptcy as he was unable to pay the amount and expressed intent to appeal the verdict. The judge ruled that he could only proceed with an appeal if he used preapproved donors for his legal fees.
This week’s agreement sees Giuliani also consenting to future court enforcement of the judgment and injunction.
“Today ends his efforts to profit off of lies about these two heroes of American democracy,” said Michael J. Gottlieb, the attorney representing Freeman and Moss, in a statement.
Recently, Arizona officials served Giuliani an indictment at his 80th birthday party, much to the surprise of the attendees.
