Election Worker Tells Jury: ‘Giuliani Just Messed Me Up’
New York TimesDec 16, 2023
Giuliani to Pay Over $148M in Defamation Case
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The Facts
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.
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.
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.”
The Spin
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.
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.
