- Former New York City mayor and personal lawyer to Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, was ordered to pay over $148M in the defamation trial brought by two Georgia election workers he falsely accused of altering ballots during the 2020 presidential election on Friday. BBC News (a)
- The penalty will see Giuliani pay $75M in punitive damages, $20M to both plaintiffs for emotional damages, and $16M to the two women for defamation. They had initially sought between $15M-$43M. BBC News (a)
- This came after the former mayor and lawyer was expected to take the stand on Thursday, but instead, his defense rested without calling any witnesses. Giuliani’s attorney, Joseph Sibley, didn’t deny the accusations against his client but called the damages sought as “catastrophic” and “inappropriate.” CBS (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- Before the jury began deliberations, attorney Michael Gottlieb had asked for $24M each for his clients — Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea ArShaye Moss — and requested they were awarded more in emotional and punitive damages. CBS (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- Giuliani was already found liable for defamation in a pretrial ruling. Throughout the trial, outside of court, he continued to repeat his claims, and suggested his testimony would make it “definitively clear what I said was true.” Forbes (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- Both women testified earlier in the week, with Freeman claiming she has been isolated from friends and family because of Giuliani’s words and actions and describing having to vacate her home after a group of Trump supporters showed up. BBC News (b) (LR: 3 CP: 5)
Narrative A:
- This is a fair punishment for Giuliani, who not only spread lies about these women — upending their lives and putting them in grave danger — but continued to defame them after being ordered to stop by the court. If Giuliani thinks his current situation is bad, he may not want to think about what could happen after the various criminal cases against him are decided.
Vanity Fair
Narrative B:
- This case was a political hit job and the astronomical sum of damages doesn't fit the crime. The plaintiffs faced hardship because of the actions of numerous people who were concerned with election security, and Giuliani shouldn't have to pay for everyone’s sins. But Giuliani is their target for political reasons.
Washington Examiner
We would need an elegant location to announce the half-penny comback live on national television. Any ideas?
Clearly Four Seasons!